Artwork
King Beheading Enemy
King Beheading Enemy is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
The work consists of a single sheet of paper bearing a matrix of thirty‑five individual cells arranged in seven horizontal rows and five vertical columns. Each cell contains black script in a language that has not been identified, and several cells are marked by diagonal strokes that intersect the lettering.
Technique & Style
The paper exhibits signs of extensive handling: small tears, stains, and a pervasive yellowing that convey an aged, weathered surface. These physical traces suggest the object has been examined or used repeatedly over an extended period.
Subject & Meaning
Because the script remains undeciphered, the specific narrative or symbolic content of the text is unknown. The presence of intersecting lines may indicate annotations, corrections, or a system of emphasis, but their precise purpose cannot be determined without further linguistic analysis.
History & Provenance
The piece is part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is catalogued as a work titled “King Beheading Enemy.” No additional information about its origin, creator, or acquisition history is provided in the available records.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
