Nelson - Ancient Egyptian Statues
Introduction
Learning about the works of Ancient Greek artists has given us a unique lens though which we can view art from different cultures. Some of the Egyptian art words featured below were produced around the same time as some of the Greek works we have studied. There are similarities, but the differences are what is really interesting. In place of stoic solid-colored figures, the artists of Ancient Egypt show daily life, relationships, and physical details in creative and symbolic ways. In viewing the gallery below, please consider in what ways they pieces below differ from the Mediterranean art we've been studying.
Faience Statue
Egyptian. Late Period, Dynasty 26-30, 664-332 B.C. From San-el-Hagar. 11 x 5.4 x 1.9cm. FaienceFaience is a process that creates brightly colored ceramic pieces. This piece was green and red. There is a leaf pattern on the side of the throne. The Faience Statue was found in 1885, and was in two pieces.
It is unclear if the red in her appearance is paint, or decayed paint, or just the wear of time. This statue has one arm across her chest while sitting, and has something in her lap - perhaps it is fabric. She also wears an elaborate headdress which sits atop her detailed hair. The small piece of material coming from her forehead area appears to be a crown. Her legs and feet appear to be elongated to fit onto the seat and base, giving her lower half an disproportionate look.
Guardian Figure
Egyptian. Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, Reign of Amenemhat II. 1919 - 1885 B.C. 57.6 x 11 x 26cm. Wood, plaster, and paint.This statue was found in a chamber inside an enclosure wall in the Mastaba of Imhotep in the Memphite Region of Egypt. The figure is dressed in garment that were representative of Egyptian rules of the time. He was found behind a shrine to Anubis, and it is speculated that with another similar statue, they stood guard over the shrine.
One thing about this figure that immediately stand out are the separations at his shoulders. This statue was put together from 16 separate pieces of wood. His clothing was covered in white plaster, to give it a more cloth like appearance. His stance supports the idea that he was a guardian - this is the way a guardian would have been represented. He also carries a hooked staff. His face, while very detailed, gives no expression.
This statue is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/faience-statue-130994
Limestone Statue
Limestone Statue of Royal Acquaintance Katep and his wife, Hetepheres. 4th Dynasty. Egypt, Giza. H. 47.5cm. Painted.The husband and wife statue was originally blue and green. Both figures were adorned with jewelry. Coupled statues were often put in private tombs. The location of Katep's tomb, however, is unknown. Note that the wife sits closely and almost evenly with her husband, as to represent their equality.
This statue is different in many ways from Greek works. This limestone statue depicts two people, which is not common among Meditterranean works of art. The couple is also seated. Most Greek statues are of standing figures. The wife is also represented in a similar way to her husband. For this time period it seems groundbreaking to equate a wife to her husband.
It appears that the couple may have been completed using separate colors for each of them. There are also clear differences in the details of their hair, shoulders, and facial features.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=117639&partId=1&searchText=egyptian+statues&page=1
The God Osiris
Ptolemaic Period, 332 - 30 B.C. Wood coated, covered, and formerly painted, bronze. 1.68 x .36 x .38m.This statue is made with stuccoed wood and metal detail and has eyes inlaid with alabaster and glass.
Osiris married his sister, Isis, and succeeded his father as ruler. His brother was jealous and hatched a plan to murder him. Isis later brought him back to life, and used magic to bear him a son. With an heir, he was able to become the king of the dead.
At first glance this statue appears delicate because of the imbalance created by the headdress. The figure seems dark at the top, and gets lighter as you go towards the feet. This may be because of damage or paint that is no longer visible to the naked eye. Osiris stands with his feet together and arms crossed. He is holding sceptors. His eyes have been inlaid using alabaster and glass. Some of the details on Osiris have been completed with metal.
Osiris was a popular God because he became people's path to the afterlife. It was believed that if certain rituals had been followed, that upon death, people would continue on to the afterlife.
http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/statue-osiris
Statue of Nakhthorheb Kneeling in Prayer
Reign of Psamtek II, 595 - 589 B.C. Quartzite.Nakhthorheb is an important figure in Late Period Egyptian Art. Several depictions of him have been found and are on display world wide. His popularity is most likely attributed to the many civic and social positions he held as an 26th Dynasty aristocrat. This statue is on display at the Louvre.
In comparison to Greek works, this statue is very different at first glance. Nakhthorheb is in a kneeling position, while most Greek statues are done in upright poses. The quartzite and size of the piece give a surreal feeling to the piece. The impression being that this is a model for people to emulate, and not a representation of commoners.
When viewed from the side, the legs are abnormally long in proportion to the rest of Nakhthorheb's body. His feet melt into the base below, giving his toes a webbed type appearance. You can see that is back is in perfect straight alignment with the rest of his body, which also seems almost impossible to physically replicate.
His face is plain, and has not been decorated. You can clearly make out his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, although these features have not been heavily detailed.
http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/statue-nakhthorheb-kneeling-prayer
Nude Figure of the Seal Bearer Tjetji
6th Dynasty, 2321 - 2184 B.C. Upper Egypt, Akhmim. Wood, obsidian, limestone, copper. Painted, inlaid, incised. 75 x 37 x 18.5cm.At one point, this figure was fully painted from head to toe. The name of the figure comes from the hieroglyphics that are in the base of the statue. This pose was common for officials of this period. While the pose is similar to Greek and other styles, Tjetji's features give him a distinct look from Greek works of art.
While his stance and body type are similar to Greek works, Tjetji carries or walks with a staff. His facial features are also remarkable. His hair has been styled with precise detail. His eyes are done in a style popular in Egypt. In this method, the eyes are created with limestone and obisidian, and set in copper. There are also markings on his legs that could be remnants of paint, or perhaps damage incurred over the centuries.
