Lion Sculpture with the Coronation of the Virgin Mary

Castile-Léon, Circa 1200
The Cloisters, New York City

The lion symbolizes Christ. The figures behind him illustrate the salvation and sanctification of mankind that flow from his victory. On the left, the Father and Son crown the Virgin Mary. To the right of that group, St. Leonard (the larger figure) leads a captive (the smaller figure, behind the lion's mane) out of prison.


Left: The sculpture in context. Right: The lion and serpent; the tower prison.

Read more about images of the Coronation of the Virgin
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Photographed at the Cloisters by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.