[Lions] Claire Heliot

Friedländer, Hamburg, 1901. 96 x 71 cm. Lith. no. 1976.

Middle fold worn with reinfs. on verso. *Famous for carrying her 159 kg Lion Sicchi on her back, Clair Heliot (pseud. Klara Haumann) was a female lion taming sensation. It took her 2 years to create a fully trained act, and by 1905 her troop consisted of fourteen lions. Even though her kind and nurturing approach towards the lions was successful, her gentle approach did not prevent her from being attacked by her lions during her farewell tour in 1907. This forced her to withdraw from the circus stage forever.