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Stanislav Hanzík is one of the most important artists in Czech modern post-war sculpture. He studied under professors Jan Lauda and Vincenc Makovský. In 1962 he won a scholarship to study at École des Beaux-Arts under Henri Adam and Ossip Zadkin, after winning the grand prize at the Biennale de la Jeunesse in Paris for his sculpture The Welder. Hanzík is known as an excellent portrait painter, and his very expressive sculptures of Stanislav Neumann, Rudolf Hrušínský and Josef Kemr can be seen in the bust gallery in the National Theater. In 1999 he received the Jean Masson Davidson medal from the Society of Portrait Sculptors in London for his portrait of Bohumil Hrabal. According to the artist, this opuka limestone Lion was originally intended for the interior of the Czechoslovak Parliament, but due to the changed political situation the project was never realized and the sculpture never installed at the intended site. The artist has worked with the theme of lions many times in his work. His monumental lion sculpture now stands in front of Most City Hall, and the fountain in front of the Karolinum in Prague is decorated with three lions. The work should be exhibited in June–September at an exhibition held by Prague Castle Administration and FOIBOS titled "Prague Castle Architects after Plečnik, Janák, Fragner, 1930s– 1960s". The work was obtained directly from the artist. Argillaceous ("opuka") limestone.