Lion Under the Olive, Lion of Judah Christian Wall Art

What is painted

The lion lies stretched out with his front paws crossed in front of him, a heavy golden mane framing his face, his tail curled on the ground behind. He is not roaring or stalking; his expression is steady and watchful, looking off to the right. Over him arches a young olive tree with a twisting trunk and slender silver-green leaves, its branches hung with small green olives.

To his left, half hidden among low plants and pale stones, a little wooden cross leans at an angle, bound at the crossing. The drawing is detailed and warm, in golden ochre, sepia and muted olive tones on cream paper, with no background and no text, so the animal and the tree stand out clearly.

Strength at rest

In the Book of Revelation, John weeps because no one is found worthy to open the sealed scroll, and an elder tells him: “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed” (Revelation 5:5). When John turns to look, what he sees is a Lamb as it had been slain. The lion and the lamb are the same Christ: all his strength shown in giving himself.

The title goes back to Jacob's blessing over his son Judah, whom he calls a lion's whelp (Genesis 49:9). Proverbs 28:1 adds that “the righteous are bold as a lion.” The olive tree stands for peace, and its branch is what the dove brought back to Noah. A lion lying down under an olive tree is power that has nothing left to prove.

For many readers the picture also recalls Aslan, the lion C.S. Lewis created in the Chronicles of Narnia as a figure of Christ, at once good and not safe.

For a man's space, or a boy's room

This is a favorite choice for a study, an office, a den or a young man's bedroom, and it is often given for Father's Day, a confirmation, a graduation or a baptism. Because it has no verse, it can sit comfortably in a room where a lettered print might feel like too much, and people who know the Lion of Judah will recognize it at once.

This Christian wall art is printed on thick archival matte paper, made to order in the United States, with no cost for US shipping. Sizes go from 5x7 to 24x36, and metric and A sizes are available too. The Christian poster comes unframed, with a margin of cream paper, and you can also order the digital file.