Portrait of a Prince
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Ink, watercolor, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm) W. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of George D. Pratt, 1935
Accession Number
45.174.19
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Portrait of a Prince*, by an unknown artist in the 17 century, captures the refined elegance of Islamic miniature painting. Rendered in ink, watercolor, and gold paper, the small-scale work (8 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches) depicts a noble figure in profile, surrounded by delicate floral motifs—a common emblem of beauty and paradise in Persianate art. Likely a leaf from a codex or album, it exemplifies the intricate book arts of the Islamic world, where such portraits adorned manuscripts, albums, or princely collections. Hailing from the Islamic Art tradition, this piece reflects the Saf...