Artwork

Sculpture depicting a royal Assyrian armsbearer with attendant genius from the period of Ashur-nasir-pal II (885-860 B.C.), Louvre, Paris

Sculpture depicting a royal Assyrian armsbearer with attendant genius from the period of Ashur-nasir-pal II (885-860 B.C.), Louvre, Paris is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The image presents a relief of an Assyrian royal arms‑bearer accompanied by a attendant figure, identified as a genius.

About this work

Overview

The image presents a relief of an Assyrian royal arms‑bearer accompanied by a attendant figure, identified as a genius. The work dates to the reign of Ashur‑nasir‑pal II, roughly 885–860 B.C., and exemplifies the courtly iconography of early Neo‑Assyrian art.

Subject & Meaning

In Assyrian royal propaganda, the armed attendant signifies the king’s military authority, while the accompanying genius—a winged, often bearded figure—serves as a protective spirit or divine messenger. Together they convey the power and divine sanction of the monarch’s rule.

Technique & Style

Carved from stone, the relief displays the characteristic high relief technique of the period, with sharply defined musculature and stylized drapery. The composition balances rigid, formal posture with intricate detailing of armor and ornamental accessories, typical of Neo‑Assyrian sculptural conventions.

History & Provenance

The photograph is one of 611 images once owned by American painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925). After his death, his sisters, Emily Sargent and Violet Sargent Ormond, donated the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum in August 1925, alongside a watercolour and a tapestry‑covered chair.

Context

Sargent’s photographic pursuits reflected his extensive travels and broad artistic interests. The images, largely of architecture, sculpture and decorative arts from Europe, the Near East and beyond, were gathered during trips that also informed his mural work for the Boston Public Library.

Legacy

The V&A regarded the donated photographs as valuable research material for its Library Photograph Collection and Sculpture Department. They were catalogued geographically, providing scholars with visual documentation of ancient artworks that are otherwise difficult to access.