LEOPARD IV — The Golden Guardian of the Court Limited Edition Giclée Print

LEOPARD IV — “The Golden Guardian of the Court”

From the LEOPARD series

The LEOPARD series draws inspiration from the remarkable bronze and brass leopard sculptures associated with the historic Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria. Within the royal court of Benin, the leopard was closely associated with the Oba — the king — becoming a powerful emblem of royal authority, strength, protection and controlled power.

LEOPARD IV — The Golden Guardian of the Court — presents the leopard in a more commanding, ceremonial form.

Standing firmly with its head raised and mouth open, the figure appears caught between stillness and proclamation. Its posture is alert and assured, while the dramatically curled tail gives the sculpture an almost heraldic silhouette — a guardian that does not retreat into the background, but announces its presence.

Across the body, intricate circular ornamentation transforms the surface into something approaching ceremonial armour. Light moves across the warm, aged-gold patina, revealing layers of texture and detail that evoke the extraordinary metalworking traditions that inspired the collection.

There is both beauty and tension in the figure: ornament and strength, refinement and wildness. The leopard remains unmistakably powerful, yet its power is contained — held within form, ritual and presence.

Reimagined through a contemporary artistic lens, The Golden Guardian of the Court explores the guardian not simply as protector, but as a visible symbol of authority: watchful, imposing and impossible to overlook.

Rendered in the graphite-and-aged-metal aesthetic of the LEOPARD series, the work brings the visual richness of historical African metalwork into conversation with contemporary art.

• Medium & Style: Conceptual Digital Art / Figurative Symbolism.
• Dimensions: 60 W x 60 H centimeters (Standard framing dimension). 24 x 24 inch.
• Paper Quality: Hahnemühle German Etching, 310 gsm — heavyweight fine-art paper with a finely textured surface.
• Ink Longevity: Produced using archival pigment inks for timeless depth and deep tonal contrast.
• Exclusivity: Limited Edition of 9
• Certificate of Authenticity
  Each limited-edition artwork is accompanied by a numbered and personally signed Certificate of Authenticity, sent separately by post directly from the artist. The certificate records the artwork title, edition number and authentication details.
• Unframed: Supplied unframed, allowing flexibility for traditional, float or museum-style framing.
• Sheet Size: 60 × 60 cm / 24 × 24 in
  Artwork Image Size: 40 × 40 cm / approx. 15.7 × 15.7 in
  Fine-Art Margin: Approx. 10 cm / 4 in on all sides, allowing flexibility for museum-style, float or traditional framing.