The Fabulous Creature Buraq
Unknown Artist
ca. 1660–80
Medium
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Dimensions
Painting: H. 10 7/8 in. (27.6 cm) W. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm) Overall: H. 14 5/8 in. (37.1 cm) W. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, Elizabeth S. Ettinghausen Gift, in memory of Richard Ettinghausen, and Ehsan Yarshater Gift, 1992
Accession Number
1992.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Fabulous Creature Buraq*, a mesmerizing 17th-century folio from the Islamic Art collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created around 1660–80 by an unknown artist, this opaque watercolor and gold painting on paper captures the mythical Buraq—a legendary steed from Islamic tradition known for transporting the Prophet Muhammad during his miraculous Night Journey (Mi'raj). Measuring about 11 by 9 inches, the delicate work likely originates from a codex, a bound manuscript format prized for preserving illuminated texts and illustrations. Buraq is often depicted as a composite b...