Turkomen Horseman

16th century
Not on view
The figure of a Turkomen warrior, born to the saddle and inseparable from his mount, epitomizes the qualities of rugged independence, self reliance, toughness, endurance, and courage, admired down to this day, but to his more sedentary, urban contemporaries the additional, more fearsome and alarming qualities of ruthlessness, mercilessness, and cruelty. The leaf has been cut off at the top, suggesting that it once contained another or other drawings. The probability is, then, that this drawing functioned as a model, in spite of its finished appearance. The semi-circle at the upper left would appear to be half of an erased seal.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Turkomen Horseman
  • Date: 16th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran
  • Medium: Ink, transparent and opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
  • Dimensions: H. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm)
    W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George D. Pratt, 1935
  • Object Number: 45.174.7
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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