Una and the Lion statuette, after John Bell, English, 1851.
John Bells famous sculpture of Una & the Lion, who appear in book 1 of Spencer's `The Fairie Queene` 1590.
Una who personifies true religion and represents truth, and purity, has lost her love, the Redcrosse Knight, so named because 'on his brest a bloudie Crosse he bore`.
As she sets out to find him she comes face to face with the mighty Lion of England, who is over come by her pureness and beauty, and from that moment on became her protector and never left her side as she searches for her lover.
John Bell`s original statue, situated in London, also know as Purity, was exhibited in the sculpture section of the Great exhibition, 1851.
