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Eyes to behold stunning artworks in world-class museums.

Human Figures

3 min read
Human Figures

The Metropolitan Museum has a wide variety of artworks that depict human figures. These artworks come from all over the world and span many different cultures and periods of history. The human figure has been a popular subject for artists throughout the ages, and the artworks in The Metropolitan Museum provide a glimpse into how different cultures have represented the human form.

Standing Figure with Feathered Headdress

Islamic Art / The Met

    The ornamented headdress, arms, and rich vestments of this figure suggests that figures like this one most likely represent a sovereign's personal guard, viziers or amirs.
    Probably meant to decorate the reception hall of a ruler's court, be it the Seljuk sultan or one of his local vassals or successors, they would parallel and enhance actual ceremonies in the very setting in which they took place.
    Recent analyses have proven that a traditionally-made gypsum plaster is consistently employed on these figures and on archaeological stuccoes.
    The figures also display integrated restoration of the first half of the twentieth century, including additions in a more refined gypsum, and modern pigments (some of the reds and synthetic ultramarine blue).

Views of Vienna

Austrian, 1769–1851 / The Met

    The light screen consists of four leaves, each consisting of two topographical views of Vienna, identified by inscriptions beneath, in translucent enamels on glass.
    The light screen is set into a frame of blond wood trimmed with darker wood.
    The frame has a wood panel in the lowest register set with a framed, mother-of-pearl, shaped cartouche.

Stela of the Overseer of the Fortress Intef

Egyptian Art / The Met

    The stela proclaims the name of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II ca.
   2051 - 2000 B C., the founder of the Middle Kingdom.
    In the same line, the Stella's owner, Intef, refers to himself as "his (the king's) servant."

A Road in Louveciennes

French, Limoges 1841–1919 Cagnes-sur-Mer / The Met

    This picture, which is in effect drawn directly with paint, was almost certainly executed out-of-doors about 1870.
    The site is in the village of Louveciennes, west of Paris, where Camille Pissarro lived and worked in 1869-70 and was inspired to paint the same motif, but from a different vantage point (National Gallery, London).
    At the time, Renoir was staying nearby with his parents, who had retired to Voisins.

Interior of the Oude Kerk, Delft

Dutch, Alkmaar ca. 1616–1692 Amsterdam / The Met

    This painting is a realistic depiction of the inside of the Oude Kerk in Delft.
    The painting takes some liberties with the architecture of the church.
    There are a lot of religious paintings and sculptures in the church, but they have been destroyed during the Iconoclasm.

From 14th Century To 15th Century

From 14th Century To 15th Century

During the 14th and 15th centuries, artists in Europe began to break away from the traditional Gothic style. They began to experiment with new techniques and styles, resulting in a period of great creativity and innovation in the arts. Some of the most famous artworks from this period include the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, and the sculptures of Donatello. Box with Romance Scenes     This coffret illustrated with scenes from Arthurian and other courtly literature of the M
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From 1819 To 1826

From 1819 To 1826

The 19th century was a time of great change in the world of art. Artists began to experiment with new styles and media, and the art world was forever changed as a result. Some of the most famous artists of the time include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso. The Falls of Niagara     The painting is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.     The painting is based on a vignette of the falls from a map of North America published by Henry S. Tanner in 1822. Heroic Landscape w
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From 1787 To 1800

From 1787 To 1800

The 18th century was a time of great change in the world of art. New styles and genres emerged, and artists began to experiment with new techniques and materials. The art of the 18th century reflected the changing times, and the growing interest in the natural world and the human form. Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby     The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 and soon became one of the most popular comic performers of the day.  
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