FIRST HALF OF 5TH CENTURY B.C., PERSEPOLIS

Details

AN ACHAEMENID LIMESTONE RELIEF FRAGMENT
FIRST HALF OF 5TH CENTURY B.C., PERSEPOLIS
Depicting the bearded head of a Persian guardsman, facing left, wearing a feathered headdress, with beard and hair clearly defined and arranged in tight curls, the lower part of two tongue motifs on the bevelled edge above, repaired
6¼ x 4¾ in. (15.8 x 12 cm.)

Provenance

Sir Gore Ouseley, Bt., K.L.S.
Sir Frederick Ouseley, Bt.
St Michael's College, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire: sold Sotheby's London, 13 December 1990, lot 66.

Sir Gore Ouseley acquired this relief, amongst others, in the early 19th Century while Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Court of Persia (1810-1815). An account of his visit to Persepolis in July 1811 is recorded in his diary, now in The Bodleian Library, Oxford (Folio, 1811-1815, p. 22). Part of his collection was presented to The British Museum, while other reliefs were retained. The above lot was inherited, along with another of horse heads, by his son Sir Frederick Ouseley, the Founder of St. Michael's College, Tenbury, to which it was then passed.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The Achaemenid capital at Persepolis was founded by Darius I (522-486 B.C.) and expanded by his successors. Two great staircases, on the East and North sides, lead to the Apadana (Audience Hall) and were decorated with reliefs depicting gift-bearing delegations from the twenty-three subject peoples of the empire. Behind the enthroned Persian king are files of attendants, guards, horses, chariots and nobles of the court.

For a frieze of related Persian guards with similar tongue motifs above their heads, cf. E. Schmidt, Persepolis I: Structure, Reliefs, Inscriptions, Chicago, 1953, pls. 25a and 26a-b, from the centre of the West (Inner) Face of the parapet bordering the central landing, part of the Eastern Staircase.

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