Open full image Pin

Neo-Assyrian colossal statue of a winged lion in white marble from the North-West palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq. London: British Museum

Unknown

1897

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Neo-Assyrian colossal statue of a winged lion in white marble from the North-West palace of Ashurnasirpal II, Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq. London: British Museum is a 1897 photographic by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1897 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a black-and-white photo of a giant stone statue. It shows a creature with a lion’s body, human-like hands, and a man’s face wearing a pointed hat. The wings are wide and detailed, with feathers carved into the stone. The lion stands on a flat base, holding a small object in its front paws. The photo itself is old, taken in 1897, and shows some wear on the edges. The statue looks like it was made to guard something important, based on its size and fierce look. This photo is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum collection.

The story of this work

Overview

The image is a sepia-toned photograph depicting a colossal Neo-Assyrian winged lion statue carved from white marble, originally located in the North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud in northern Iraq. Acquired by the British Museum in 1897 from Messrs E. Parsons & Sons, the photograph was part of a collection previously owned by Dr. John Henry Middleton, former Director of the South Kensington Museum. The sculpture itself is a guardian figure typical of Assyrian art, combining human, animal, and avian features.

Read the full account in the museum source.