Escape of the Roman Kitchen Slaves by Lionus (2006)

Taking their best bet in the early morning hours, Loto and Lucanus, scampered down the still-empty rain-puddled back streets Of the city. The fall of their bare pawfeet on the worn smooth paving stones of the streets were at times softly halting. The other kitchen slaves had been woken for their chores and the lionmorph and wolfmorph's absence have surely been noticed by now.
They both knew the ferocious punishment that waited them if they were captured. Yet their fears grew less and less with each silent city block they ran through. Each footfall told them that they were free -- free -- free.

Pencil to Photoshop
ARTIST'S NOTES: Quite a bit of work went into this piece, even though it started out as a simple pencil sketch -- then two, then a number of background layouts, till finally the commitment that it should be a picture was made. Once that commitment was made I began expanding the number of "Easter Eggs" that I wanted in the piece. On the left is three-quarters of an existant statue of "Adonis and the Faun". On the right ... well "munera" is the Latin world for "games", something that any Roman town or city would prominantly advertise in the days leading up to them.

This artwork was inspired by an ancient Roman bronze placque advertising for the return for two young escaped slaves. From their future this piece is my way of wishing them both success and the best of luck in their life of newly won freedom.

The color original print of his picture was sold at AnthroCon on June 18th, 2006.