The Central Asiatic origin of the Seljuks is aptly illustrated in this stucco relief, which must have formed part of a larger composition decorating a palace. The official’s round face, long eyes, and small mouth demonstrate an eastern facial type foreign to the Indo-European Iranians but adopted by them as the ideal of beauty into the nineteenth century.
The figure wears the winged crown of ancient Sasanian Iran, an invader’s conscious identification with the history of the conquered foe. The boots and stiff caftan, however, betray his nomadic beginnings.
The figure wears the winged crown of ancient Sasanian Iran, an invader’s conscious identification with the history of the conquered foe. The boots and stiff caftan, however, betray his nomadic beginnings.
Details
Artist | Islamic, Iranian |
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Title |
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Date | between 1150 and 1250 |
Medium | Painted stucco |
Dimensions | Overall: 40 inches (101.6 cm) |
Credit Line | City of Detroit Purchase |
Accession Number | 25.64 |
Department | Islamic Art |
On View | Islamic N120, Level 1 (see map) |
Signed, Marks, Inscriptions
Inscriptions | Inscribed, on upper arm bands, in Kufic: [translated: the faithful] |
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Provenance
H. Kevorkian;
1925-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
1925-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Published References
Bulletin of the DIA 11, no. 3 (1929): pp. 41-42, (ill. p. 41).
Masterpieces of Art in Memory of W.R. Valentiner. Exh. cat., North Carolina Museum of Art. Raleigh, April 6-May 17, 1951, suppl. 13.
Riefstahl, Rudolf M. "Persian Islamic Stucco Sculptures," The Art Bulletin, vol. 13, no. 5 (1931): p. 462, (ill.).
Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 121 (ill.).
Masterpieces of Art in Memory of W.R. Valentiner. Exh. cat., North Carolina Museum of Art. Raleigh, April 6-May 17, 1951, suppl. 13.
Riefstahl, Rudolf M. "Persian Islamic Stucco Sculptures," The Art Bulletin, vol. 13, no. 5 (1931): p. 462, (ill.).
Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 121 (ill.).