Portrait of a Courtier or Politician
Unknown Artist
second half 19th century
Medium
Watercolor on paper
Dimensions
H. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm) W. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Stephen and Thomas Ettinghausen, in memory of Dr. Richard Ettinghausen and Dr. Elisabeth S. Ettinghausen, 2017
Accession Number
2017.692.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate watercolor portrait, likely a folio from a codex or album, depicts a distinguished man—possibly a courtier or politician—from the Islamic world in the second half of the 19th century. Measuring just 10¼ × 8 inches, its intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the fine brushwork typical of Persianate or Ottoman miniature traditions. Rendered in watercolor on paper, the medium allowed artists to achieve luminous colors and intricate details, such as the subject's ornate attire and poised expression, capturing status and intellect. In Islamic art, such portraits served not o...