Artist unknown / Winged Genius / 883 B.C.

Artist unknown
Winged Genius
883 B.C. - 859 B.C.
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Creator Name: Unknown
Creator Nationality: Asian; Middle Eastern; Assyrian
Creator Role: Sculptor
Creator Name-CRT: Artist unknown
Title: Winged Genius
View: front
Creation Start Date: -88
Creation End Date: -85
Creation Date: 883 B.C. - 859 B.C.
Creation Place: Nimrud, modern Iraq
Object Type: Sculpture
Classification Term: Relief
Materials and Techniques: Limestone
Dimensions: H.90 x W.41 in
Inscriptions: INSCRIPTION
AMICA Contributor: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Owner Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
ID Number: 41.9
Credit Line: The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fund
Rights: http://www.artsmia.org/restrictions.html
Context:

This panel was taken from the remains of an imperial palace at Nimrud, the capital of the Assyrian empire, now located in modern Iraq. The walls of the palace, constructed by Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.), were decorated with stone panels carved in low relief, narrating his hunting and military exploits.

This genius, or demi-god, was part of a grouping of winged creatures facing a stylized tree, a scene repeated numerous times in the palace. They appear to be performing fertility rites associated with the date palm, a tree held sacred by the Assyrians because it provides food, drink, wood and shelter. The cuneiform text which covers the surface is part of a standard inscription that extols the victories and greatness of Ashurnasirpal and describes the building of his palace. Traces remain of the bright colors with which the panel was painted, increasing its visual impact.

The palace at Nimrud was excavated between 1845 and 1851 A.D. by Sir Austin H. Layard working on behalf of the British Museum. This panel was among a number of palace sculptures acquired at that time for private and public collections in the United States, making them the first examples of ancient Mesopotamian art to reach the Western world.

AMICA ID: MIA_.41.9
Component Measured: overall
Measurement Unit: in
AMICA Library Year: 1998
Media Metadata Rights: ?The Minneapolis Institute of Arts

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