TIMUR'S ARMY ATTACKS THE FORTRESS OF HERAT AND GHIYATH AL-DIN, THE KARTID RULER, SUES FOR PEACE
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Gouache |
| Current Location: | Christine\'s New York |
The composition divides into two opposing registers. On one side lies chaos: soldiers clash, flames consume the fortress, and in the foreground lies a heap of severed heads. On the other side reigns stillness. The vanquished king kneels with outstretched hands, while Timur sits composed upon his throne, betraying neither anger nor haste. Only quiet expectation. My response is dual. I feel awe at the meticulous detail, especially given that the entire scene fits within a palm-sized frame. And I feel unease at the brutality. The severed heads startled me. What I admire about the composition is its insistence on juxtaposition as elements of painting. War and submission. Tumult and silence. The kneeling king is positioned low, Timur high. That vertical distance speaks more eloquently of power than any loud proclamation. This is a beautiful painting of an ugly truth. I do not enjoy looking at it. Yet I cannot turn away.