Caption

Fragment of an orthostat with relief decoration, unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop. Fragment of a stone wall-cladding slab orthostat with a relief representation of an archer on horseback. The realistically carved horse head, with a trimmed mane and a low horseshoe-shaped plume on top, features a meticulously rendered bridle. The rider, shown in left profile, holds a drawn bow with an arrow in his left hand and wears a helmet. As is customary, the eye is shown full face. The long beard and mustache are schematic and give the impression of being unfinished. In the upper left corner and between the bow and the rider's head are traces of an inscription having been chiseled off, indicating the slab's secondary use. Neo-Assyrian art, 7th century BC c. 668–c. 631 BC, reign of Ashurbanipal. From Kuyunjik ancient Nineveh, Southwestern Palace Palace of Sennacherib. Orthostat; height 28 cm, width 32 cm, depth 7.8 cm, weight 10.6 kg., A carved stone relief fragment showing part of a human figure facing right with a detailed profile including an eye, nose, beard, and a conical or ridged headpiece, holding a bow that curves toward the left; the bowstring and the figure’s bent arm and hand are visible. In front of the figure are carved horse heads and harness details with bridles and bits, and traces of reins that overlap with the bow. The stone surface is cracked and weathered with rough, chipped edges and areas of smoother, carved lines. The visible colors are beige, tan, light brown, gray, and darker charcoal tones concentrated in the lower carved areas.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A03_051

License type

Rights managed

Available size

93.3Mb (8.4Mb) / 20.0in x 18.1in / 6000 x 5434 (300dpi)

Keywords

Fragment orthostat relief decoration unknown Neo-Assyrian workshop stone wall-cladding slab orthostat relief representation archer horseback realistically carved horse head trimmed mane low horseshoe-shaped plume top features meticulously rendered bridle rider shown left profile holds drawn bow arrow left hand wears helmet customary eye shown full face long beard mustache schematic give impression unfinished upper left corner bow rider's head traces inscription having chiseled off indicating slab's secondary Neo-Assyrian art 7th century BC c 668–c 631 Bc reign Ashurbanipal Kuyunjik ancient Nineveh Southwestern Palace Palace Sennacherib Orthostat height 28 cm width 32 cm depth 7.8 cm weight 10.6 kg carved stone relief fragment showing part human figure facing right detailed profile nose beard conical ridged headpiece holding curves bowstring figure’s bent arm hand visible front figure carved horse heads harness details bridles bits reins overlap stone surface cracked weathered rough chipped edges areas smoother carved lines visible colors beige tan light brown gray darker charcoal tones concentrated lower areas.