The composition “Lions”, by British artist and sculptor Kendra Heist, is part of the Royal Beasts exhibition dedicated to the royal menagerie that has lived in the Tower for nearly 600 years. As early as the 13th century, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II gave Henry III three lions. Later they were joined by a polar bear, elephants, wolves, hyenas, ostriches, monkeys, ocelots and baboons. The royal menagerie was one of the attractions for visitors to the palace until 1830, when due to the high cost of maintaining animals and the danger to visitors, he was moved to Regent's Park, and served as the beginning for the London Zoo.
In June 2010, the Historical Royal Palaces charity commissioned the renowned British artist Kendra Heist to create thirteen sculptures as part of the History of the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London exhibition. Starting in May 2011, original sculptures from the artist’s “proprietary” material, galvanized wire, will decorate the courtyards of the ancient fortress for another ten years.
The entrance to the Tower is guarded by three figures made of a steel frame and galvanized wire - “Lion”, “Lioness growling” and “Lioness pursuing” - together making up the sculptural composition “Lions”.