Battle Scene
Unknown Artist
13th century
Medium
Opaque watercolor on paper
Dimensions
H. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) W. 7 3/16 in. (18.3 cm)
Classification
Codices
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome A. Straka Gift, Fletcher Fund and Margaret Mushekian Gift, 1975
Accession Number
1975.360
Tags
Art Historical Context
This vivid *Battle Scene*, a 13th-century folio from an Islamic codex, captures the chaos of combat in opaque watercolor on paper—a technique akin to gouache that allowed artists to layer rich, saturated colors for dramatic effect. Measuring just 5½ by 7⅜ inches, its intimate scale suits illumination within manuscripts, where such pages illustrated epic tales or historical chronicles. The composition bursts with dynamic energy: clashing warriors, severed heads, exposed feet, and male nudes emphasize raw physicality and violence, hallmarks of medieval battle depictions. Created during a golden...