[Lions] Claire Heliot

Friedländer, Hamburg, 1901. 96 x 71 cm. Lith. no. 1957.

Some wear along folds, 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 would consist of fourteen lions. Even though it was often seen that her being a female made her a kind and nurturing trainer, making training by force unnecessary, her gentle approach did not prevent her from begin attacked by her lions during her farewell tour in 1907. This forced her withdrawl from the circus stage forever.