Angel (Peri) Riding a Composite Camel
c. 1700
Medium
Ink wash, gold, and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 19.2 × 14.2 cm (7 1/2 × 5 5/8 in.); Paper: 25 × 18.4 cm (9 7/8 × 7 1/4 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
62169
Art Historical Context
Behold the enchanting *Angel (Peri) Riding a Composite Camel*, a delicate miniature painting from around 1700, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department. Created with ink wash, gold, and vibrant colors on paper, this tiny gem measures just 19.2 × 14.2 cm, inviting close inspection to reveal its intricate details. Anonymous artists of the era crafted such works for elite patrons, often as pages in illustrated manuscripts or albums. In Persian and Islamic artistic traditions, the *peri*—a mythical winged fairy-like being symbolizing beauty and otherworldliness—rides a fan...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...