Assyrian Palace Sculptures

Keynote

A gorgeous photographic tour of some of the most magnificent artistic creations from ancient Iraq - the palace sculptures of Assyria.

Sales points

A superb visual introduction to the spectacular reliefs from Assyrian palaces in the British Museum, offering eye-witness views of a long-lost civilization
Newly commissioned photographs highlight exquisite details of the kings in war and peace and the gods they worshipped Includes a thought-provoking introduction to the historical and cultural background of the sculptures
The only general publication on Assyrian sculpture in the last ten years, and the first photographic exploration of the reliefs and their artistic details since 1976

Contents

Origins and conventions of Assyrian art Consistency and change from Nimrud to Nineveh Recovery and reception of the sculptures
THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
Nimrud 870-727 BC
Khorsabad 710-705 BC
Nineveh 704-620 BC

Description

Between the ninth and seventh centuries BC the small kingdom of Assyria in northern Iraq expanded through conquest to dominate the region from Egypt to Iran. The power of the Assyrian kings was reflected in the creation of a series of magnificent palaces in which the walls of principal rooms and courtyards were lined with huge panels of alabaster carved with images of the monarch as priest, victorious warrior and hunter. Together, the sculptures constitute some of the most impressive and eloquent witnesses of the ancient Middle East.

This book serves as a superb visual introduction to what are undoubtedly some of the greatest works of art from the ancient world, showcasing a series of specially taken photographs of the British Museum's unrivalled collection of Assyrian sculptures. These stunning images capture the majesty of the Assyrian king, his magnificent court and its protecting divinities, through individual panels or extraordinary, often overlooked details, such as incised embroidery on robes, the contours of flesh and musculature, the turn of a horse's head or the order within the apparent chaos of battle.

An introduction sets the sculptures in their cultural and art-historical context. A brief history of Assyria and the royal palaces is followed by an overview of their discovery, reception and understanding. These are the earliest examples of complex narrative art, and their multilayered meanings occupied entire rooms in which the raw emotion and energy of animals and humans was captured with remarkable vitality. Many of these exceptional carvings rank among the greatest achievements in the history of art.

Also available in the series:

The Parthenon Sculptures in the British Museum

The Author

Dr Paul Collins is curator of Later Mesopotamian antiquities at the British Museum. He was previously Assistant Curator in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. He is the author of numerous publications including From Egypt to Babylon: The International Age 1500-500 BC (2008).