King of the Beasts

Searle was, of course, known for his cat drawings but their larger feline cousins were also a recurring motif- here are Searle's LIONS!

'The King of Beasts' aka 'The Situation Is Hopeless'

The Searle lion is a bewildered, often lackadaisical creature, bemused or bored by his status as King of the Beasts.

'The King of Beasts and Other Creatures' detail (1979)

'Feeble-minded Circus Lion'

'Zoodiac' (1977)

'Young Elizabethan' magazine, 1957

Punch magazine (1960)

 (Original Wilhelm Busch - Deutsches Museum für Karikatur und Zeichenkunst)

One of Searle's best lions; 'The Peaceable Kingdom' (1974)

Of course, the 'Venice Lion' Travel & Leisure magazine cover detail (1972)

'Burma Today, or: Whatever Happened to the Empire? (1987)

 (Original Wilhelm Busch - Deutsches Museum für Karikatur und Zeichenkunst)

Let's Have a Bite!' (2010)

Americana

Ronald Searle fans can follow the progress of my forthcoming book 'Searle's America' on the Facebook page here. I post updates and rare examples of American themed Searle work. Pre-order the book here.