20 X 24 The King Drinks by Briton Riviere was painted in the later part of his life. Completed in 1881 Riviere painted Shakespearan scenes until his fifties. The shift in his work moved to dogs then to large animals. To create this particular piece Riviere acquireda stuffed lion which he set up in his studio so that he could study closely. He took great pride in understanding the physique of an animal before painting and worked at theZoological Gardens on occasion to help further his knowledge. After his death Rivieres wife and fellow painter donated four pieces to the Royal Academy of Arts. An etching of The King Drinks was included with those four pieces. Today This original remains as part of the Royal Academy of Arts collection. Frame Description Black Crackle King Frame

