Wounded Lion

1839

Oil on Canvas

88 x 108.5cm

Collection of National Gallery Singapore

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Raden Saleh's first Orientalist paintings of wild animal hunts and fights depicted lions. He was inspired to paint lions while attending shows by the famous French animal tamer, Henri Martin, in The Hague and Haarlem from 1836 to 1837. He spent a lot of time studying the lion's anatomy and made numerous sketches.

Saleh's Wounded Lion shows a lion grimacing in pain as it has been pierced by what seems to be a keris, an Indonesian dagger.

Look at the lion's expression. How do you think it might be feeling? Why do you think so? If this lion could speak, what would it say?

Shipwreck in Storm

1839

Oil on canvas

40 x 50 cm

Gift of David Salman and Walter Jared Frost

Collection of National Gallery Singapore

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The sea has been a common subject in Dutch paintings since the 17th century. The sea enabled the Dutch to explore beyond their own lands. As ships brought back trading goods from Dutch colonies in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, the Dutch economy prospered. Marine painting gained wider popularity in Europe during the Romantic era of the late 18th and 19th centuries with artists pitting the human spirit against the power of nature.

Raden Saleh's Shipwreck in Storm is one of several paintings on this subject which he made between 1836 and 1869. It shows a ship caught in a storm with a barrel that has been thrown overboard.

What colours can you see in the painting? How would you describe the mood and emotion of the painting? Imagine you are on the ship. How would you feel? What might you be thinking?

Ship in Distress

c. 1842

Oil on Canvas laid down on board

38 x 44 cm

Collection of National Gallery Singapore

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Raden Saleh's Ship in Distress depicts a ship caught in a violent storm, powerless against the surging waves. The hint of another ship appearing in the background suggests that they may soon be rescued.

Shipwreck in Storm and Ship in Distress depict similar subject matter but with different colours and compositions. Saleh's varied treatment of heavy skies and choppy waves demonstrates his skill and familiarity with painting the sea. Having travelled across the ocean from Java, he may have experienced some anxious moments at sea. While living in Holland, he could also have observed the North Sea closely.

If you were the artist, what colours would you choose to represent the skies and seas in a violent storm? How would these colours change the mood and emotion of your painting?