Pietà by Francesco Vezzoli

3D Model

This might look ancient to you, but it is decidedly modern.  In fact, the guy that made this is still kicking around and shaking things up. His name is Francesco Vezzoli.  Originally for Brescia, Italy, he is represented by Gagosian, a contemporary gallery started by Larry Gagosian. Larry started his career selling posters to UCLA students in the 70s. Gagosian is now one of the world’s most prominent and respected galleries. So several thematic things are going on here.

There’s the lion in an about-to-pounce posture, also known in artsy vernacular as the “lion rampant.”  You’ve probably seen this on flags at medieval fairs–usually in profile–or on cosplaying knights (there is nothing like medieval jousting at a dinner theater). The rampant lion is a visual cliche, to be sure. The “king of beasts” has been used for propaganda and advertising for millennia. To find out more check out the model and video here: https://www.instagram.com/specterras_productions/