The Scholar Lion in an Ancient Library

An oil painting of a regal lion seated at a heavy mahogany desk in a grand library, tall wooden shelves filled with ancient leather-bound books. Warm amber lamplight bathes the scene, dust motes drifting in the air. The lion gazes thoughtfully at an open tome, one massive paw resting on the page. Thick impasto brushstrokes, rich earthy tones of ochre, umber, and sienna, dramatic chiaroscuro in the style of a 19th-century European master, varnished finish, painterly texture.