Grahamstown artist Bruce Little has produced a second monumental bronze lion.
This one is heading to the south of France to be auctioned off at the prestigious Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) annual fundraiser later this month.
It was the extraordinary international focus on the magnificent lion that thrust Little into the international spotlight and led to him being asked to produce an identical lion for the LDF gala event.
Last year, the LDF auctioned off a limited re-edition of Rodin’s The Thinker which sold for almost $2million (R30.2-million) and Richard Prince’s Untitled (Cowboy) which sold for more than $2million.
Little is also a passionate conservationist and said he was deeply honoured to have been invited to submit his work.
“I was approached off the back of the wonderful response to the Longleat lion, as well as a feeling that it was appropriate for the auction as it is a natural piece.”
He said it had been a whirlwind two months to produce the second lion.
“The original artwork was already done and we had the mould. So it was up to the foundry to produce the new bronze version.
Little said he was happy to donate his artwork to such a cause. The LDF had covered only the cost of casting and transporting the lion.
The lion is expected to reach St Tropez tomorrow and the auction will take place on June 20.
Little’s big lion off to St Tropez for star-studded auction
This one is heading to the south of France to be auctioned off at the prestigious Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) annual fundraiser later this month.
It was the extraordinary international focus on the magnificent lion that thrust Little into the international spotlight and led to him being asked to produce an identical lion for the LDF gala event.
Last year, the LDF auctioned off a limited re-edition of Rodin’s The Thinker which sold for almost $2million (R30.2-million) and Richard Prince’s Untitled (Cowboy) which sold for more than $2million.
Little is also a passionate conservationist and said he was deeply honoured to have been invited to submit his work.
“I was approached off the back of the wonderful response to the Longleat lion, as well as a feeling that it was appropriate for the auction as it is a natural piece.”
He said it had been a whirlwind two months to produce the second lion.
“The original artwork was already done and we had the mould. So it was up to the foundry to produce the new bronze version.
Little said he was happy to donate his artwork to such a cause. The LDF had covered only the cost of casting and transporting the lion.
The lion is expected to reach St Tropez tomorrow and the auction will take place on June 20.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos