01 Work , RELIGIOUS ART, Charles Burton Barber's The lamb with the lion - with footnotes #196

Charles Burton Barber, ROI (British, 1845-1894)

The lamb with the lion, c. 1873

oil on canvas

71 x 91.5cm (27 15/16 x 36in)

Private collection

An unusual subject for the artist, in the present painting, Barber has used his skills as an animal painter to produce a work brimming with religious symbolism. Used in Christianity to represent the Messianic Age, the lion is seen to symbolise Christ's resurrection, while the lamb stands for Christ's sacrifice. The symbols are also used to represent a time of peace; the work makes an interesting comparison with William Strutt's 1896 work Peace which draws inspiration from Isaiah, and depicts a child surrounded by a group of animals, among which a lion stands next to a lamb. More on this painting

Charles Burton Barber (1845–1894), was a British painter who attained great success with his paintings of children and their pets.

Barber was born in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and studied from the age of 18 at the Royal Academy, London - receiving a silver medal for drawing in 1864, and first exhibiting there in 1866.

During his lifetime Barber was regarded as one of Britain's finest animal painters and received commissions from Queen Victoria to do paintings of her with grandchildren and dogs, and also the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and his pets. A number of his portraits are in the Royal Collection. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1866 to 1893. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

Barber received his final commission in 1894 to paint Queen Victoria, with her grandchildren, in her pony-carriage. He died in London soon afterwards. More on Charles Burton Barber

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