Lion Monument (Lucerne, Switzerland)

The Lion Monument is one of Lucerne’s main landmarks. The lion is surrounded by a sheltered place, a lake with green trees and grass. A place where a lion will really go to die as described already by Mark Twain. Looking to the scene as a whole feels incredibly dramatic.

Carved into the cliff face, the Lion Monument measures ten meters in width and six meters in height.

Lion Monument, lion close up (Lucerne, Switzerland)

Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution.

I can’t say enough how impressive this particular sculpture is. The lion transmits real sadness and the place really wants you to cry for the lost ones. These feelings have been accentuated by a good use of light and shadow on the image.

There is a more detailed description of the historical facts behind the Lion Monument and Mark Twain description at wikipedia.org.