Gallery Edition – An animal keeper feeding raw meat to lions in a circus cage as spectators watch by Calvert Litho. Co – 61×44 Interior Architectural Study

Curatorial Narrative In the late 19th century, Calvert Litho. Co.’s “An animal keeper feeding raw meat to lions in a circus cage as spectators watch” (1891) crystallized the Victorian era’s fascination with the exotic and the thrill of the unknown. This chromatically rich lithograph exemplifies the Eclectic design style, where bold reds, blues, and yellows converge with earthy browns and beiges to evoke the dramatic tension between human control and primal power. The artist’s technique, bereft of brushwork, instead employs a graphic sensibility that underscores the performative aspect of the scene, where the animal keeper becomes a ringmaster orchestrating a spectacle for the enthralled onlookers.When enlarged to 61×44, this edition assumes a spatial rhythm that resonates with the opulent materials and textures characteristic of luxury interiors. The chromatic structure, now more pronounced, invites pairings with rich leathers, poli