Lion of the Odesa City Garden (sculptor Auguste Caїn)

One of the sculptures of the group "Lion and Lioness", created by the famous French animalist sculptor Auguste Cain in 1854. They are located in the center of the historical city of Odesa at the entrance to the City Garden from Derybasivska Street. These are well-known and beloved mascots. In October 2022, as part of the Museum for Change initiative with the support of UNESCO, the lions and a number of other city sculptures were closed with protective structures. To protect the sculptures from shelling, an engineering structure now comprises of a frame, filling, and casing, which varies from object to object. The lion symbolizes courage and bravery, and the lioness - maternal care. They got to Odesa from the Paris Salon of contemporary art, where it was bought by an unknown Odesa. Other works by Caїn stand in the Tuileries Garden, Paris, Central Park, New York, near Porte des Lions at El de Flor, in Tlemcen, Algeria and in the Luxembourg Garden.