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Author Topic: Lion of Lucerne  (Read 1243 times)

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Offline s2srea

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Lion of Lucerne
« on: May 07, 2013, 05:34:48 PM »
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    • I'd never heard about this untill today. Anyone familiar with this sculpture?




    Here's the Wikipedia desrcription:
    The Lion Monument (German: Löwendenkmal), or the Lion of Lucerne, is a sculpture in 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, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, France. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."[1]
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    Offline Incredulous

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #1 on: May 07, 2013, 07:09:54 PM »
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    • On 10 August 1792 the Paris Commune stormed the Tuileries Palace and massacred the Swiss Guards
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    "Some preachers will keep silence about the truth, and others will trample it underfoot and deny it. Sanctity of life will be held in derision even by those who outwardly profess it, for in those days Our Lord Jesus Christ will send them not a true Pastor but a destroyer."  St. Francis of Assisi

    Offline magdalena

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #2 on: May 07, 2013, 07:19:25 PM »
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    • I knew nothing about this.  Mark Twain is right, it is a mournful and moving piece of stone.  Thank you, s2srea and Incred.  It does cause one to ponder.
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    But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.
    Luke 10:42

    Offline Sigismund

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #3 on: May 07, 2013, 08:36:44 PM »
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    • Quote from: s2srea
    I'd never heard about this untill today. Anyone familiar with this sculpture?




    Here's the Wikipedia desrcription:
    The Lion Monument (German: Löwendenkmal), or the Lion of Lucerne, is a sculpture in 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, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris, France. Mark Twain praised the sculpture of a mortally-wounded lion as "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."[1]


    I have actually seen it.  The face on the lion is heartrendingly sad.  
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    Stir up within Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy Martyr and Bishop, was filled, when he laid down his life for his sheep: so that, through his intercession, we too may be moved and strengthen by the same Spir

    Offline magdalena

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #4 on: May 07, 2013, 09:40:25 PM »
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    • More from the Wikipedia Article:


    Memorial [edit]

    The initiative to create the monument was taken by Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, an officer of the Guards who had been on leave in Lucerne at that time of the fight. He began collecting money in 1818. The monument was designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, and finally hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn, in a former sandstone quarry near Lucerne. Carved into the cliff face, the monument measures a staggering ten meters in length and six meters in height.

    The monument is dedicated Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti ("To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss"). The dying lion is portrayed impaled by a spear, covering a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of the French monarchy; beside him is another shield bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland. The inscription below the sculpture lists the names of the officers and gives the approximate numbers of soldiers who died (DCCLX = 760), and survived (CCCL = 350).[2]

    The monument is described by Thomas Carlyle in The French Revolution: A History.[3] The pose of the lion was copied in 1894 by Thomas M. Brady (1849–1907)[4] for his Lion of Atlanta in the Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
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    But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.
    Luke 10:42

    Offline Kephapaulos

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #5 on: May 07, 2013, 09:47:26 PM »
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    • I've actually seen it myself too.

    Sigismund,

    The lion's facial expression does indeed very much evoke tragedy.
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    "Non nobis, Domine, non nobis; sed nomini tuo da gloriam..." (Ps. 113:9)

    Offline magdalena

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #6 on: May 07, 2013, 10:12:18 PM »
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    • Looking at the face close-up.


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    But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.
    Luke 10:42

    Offline magdalena

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #7 on: July 02, 2013, 08:17:55 PM »
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    • I read about this again the other day.  Apparently, the traditional day of installation of the Swiss Guard is May 6, in commemoration of the day when, in 1527, 147 Swiss Guards lost their lives while defending Pope Clement VII during the sacking of Rome.  Very interesting.

     :reading:


    http://thecatholicspirit.com/news/nation-and-world/changing-of-the-guard/


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_of_the_Swiss_Guard
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    But one thing is necessary. Mary hath chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.
    Luke 10:42

    Offline Zeitun

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #8 on: July 02, 2013, 08:51:58 PM »
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    • Quote from: magdalena
    The initiative to create the monument was taken by Karl Pfyffer


    Is that pronounced "Pfeiffer"?
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    Offline Hatchc

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    Lion of Lucerne
    « Reply #9 on: July 31, 2013, 12:22:11 AM »
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    • Looks like the inscriptions need to be restored.

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