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Relief showing Gilgamesh suffocating the lion from Palace of Khorsabad, period of Sargon II (722-795 B.C.)

Unknown

1884

photographic

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Relief showing Gilgamesh suffocating the lion from Palace of Khorsabad, period of Sargon II (722-795 B.C.) is a 1884 photographic by Unknown, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1884 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a worn black-and-white photo of a stone relief. A big, bearded man stands front and center, gripping a lion by the neck. His face is serious, almost angry, and he wears a belt with a pouch. The lion’s legs dangle, its head turned away. Behind him, a partial wall with carvings shows another figure, but it’s faded. The photo itself looks old, with creases and handwritten notes in the corners. The date "1880s" is scribbled on it, meaning this isn’t the original carving but a picture of it. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more original carvings like this one.

The story of this work

Overview

The relief depicts a figure on horseback grappling with a lion, rendered in sepia tones. It originates from the Palace of Khorsabad during the reign of Sargon II (722–705 B.C.). The composition captures a dynamic struggle between the human figure and the animal. The photograph was taken in 1884 by an unknown photographer.

Read the full account in the museum source.