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1944.1.31

Line drawing showing an Assyrian depiction of a winged deity

1944.1.31

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Collection type
Object
Description
Line drawing showing an Assyrian depiction of a winged deity
Long description
Large line drawing by Alfred Robinson, made for Edward B. Tylor's study of 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments' (concerning the artificial fertilization of the date-palm tree in ancient times), showing an Assyrian depiction of a quasi-human winged deity holding a fertilizing cone of the date-palm tree
Cultural groups
English
Person
Maker Alfred Robinson
Field collector Edward Burnett Tylor
PRM source Edward Burnett Tylor
Date / Period
Date made: 1889-06/1890 Archaeological period: Assyrian
Date collected
By June 1890
Acquisition information
Donated: 1917 Found unentered: 01/1944
Materials and processes
Material Paper Plant, Material Pigment, Process Drawn, Process Painted
Object numbers
Accession number: 1944.1.31
Research and responses

This is a large line drawing by Alfred Robinson, made for Edward B. Tylor's study of 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments' (concerning the artificial fertilization of the date-palm tree in ancient times), showing an Assyrian depiction of a quasi-human winged deity holding a fertilizing cone of the date-palm tree. The drawing was made by Alfred Robinson as an illustration to be reproduced (as an engraving) in Edward B. Tylor, 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments', Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, (1890), between pp.382 and 383, plate I, figure 4. Tylor begins his article: 'The following observations have arisen out of the preparation of one of my Gifford Lectures delivered before the University of Aberdeen during the past winter. In examining the nature of Spiritual Beings as defined and represented in the religions of the world, I was led to examine with more care than heretofore the class of Winged Spirits, and especially those quasi-human forms on the Assyrian monuments whose importance in the history of religious art has been lately coming into view': Tylor, 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments', p.383. Of the several forms of Assyrian winged figures, Tylor notes: 'Thirdly, we have the human-bodied figures, of which, though they are familiar objects, typical sketches are here inserted (Plate I), from the valuable work of Perrot and Chipiez, "History of Art in Chaldaea and Assyria", and Layard's "Monuments" in order to keep their characteristics clearly before our minds': Tylor, 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments', p.383. [PG 20/01/2014]

Associated publications
This image has been published in Edward B. Tylor, 'The Winged Figures of the Assyrian and Other Ancient Monuments', Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, (1890), between pp.382 and 383, plate I, figure 4. [PG 20/01/2014]

Search terms: Picture and Graphic Art, Drawing, Painting

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