Portrait of a Lady
Unknown Artist
late 17th–18th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 10 1/4 in. (26 cm) W. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Cora Timken Burnett, 1956
Accession Number
57.51.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Portrait of a Lady*, created by an unknown artist in the 17th to 18th century, exemplifies refined miniature painting tradition of Islamic art. Rendered in opaque watercolor and gold on paper the intimate 10¼ × 8¼-inch (26 × 21 cm) work captures a woman's profile with graceful poise, her elegant features framed by flowing attire and intricate jewelry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art Department and classified as a codex leaf—likely from an album or manuscript—this piece reflects the portability and precision prized in Persianate and Mughal courts. Profile ...