Art of Ancient Egypt

1. Art of Ancient Egypt Continuity, Spirituality and the Immortal Soul

2. Overview Longevity • Ancient Egyptian civilization lasted for more than 3000 and we don’t see much change in the style or function of their artwork • While today we consider the Greco-Roman period to be in the distant past, it should be noted that Cleopatra VII's reign (which ended in 30 BCE) is closer to our own time than it was to that of the construction of the pyramids of Giza. • It took humans nearly 4000 years to build something--anything--taller than the Great Pyramids.   • Consistency & Stability • Egypt’s stability is in stark contrast to the Ancient Near East of the same period, which endured an overlapping series of cultures and upheavals with amazing regularity.   • The earliest royal monuments, such as the Narmer Palette carved around 3100 B.C.E., display identical royal costumes and poses as those seen on later rulers, even Ptolemaic kings on their temples 3000 years later.

3. WHY SO CONSISTENT!!?? • Artistic style governed by decorum (a sense of what was ‘appropriate’), • This is whytheir art appears extremely static—and in terms of symbols, gestures, and the way the body is rendered, it was. It was intentional. • To the Egyptians their consistency was viewed as stability, divine balance, and clear evidence of the correctness of their culture.  

4. What are the facts? (F) Artist: Trades Person Patron: Unknown Title: Palette of King Narmer Date: 3,000 BCE Period/Style: Early Dynastic Size: 2’ 1” Location / findspot: Egypt What is the medium and technique? (M) Slate, bas relief

5. What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) Kings name Hathor Felines Horus Narmer

6. WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA) • PHYSICAL LOCATION • It Is a decorative makeup plate –location unknown – perhaps for display in a home • 2. HISTORICAL EVENTS • Record of the unification of Lower and Upper Egypt- which took place over several centuries but is shown as a single great event • 3. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS • Divine Kings – Pharaohs • Pharaoah is supreme and protected by the gods • Glorification of the Pharaoh as responsible for the unification and protection of Egypt

7. How is the subject matter visually represented / presented? (FA) Kings name Hathor • Narrative device: registers • Hierarchical scale = power of the pharaoh. He • stands above the conquered • Twisted perspective • Swiftly and easily slays his enemy – • become a standard pictorial formula for • Egyptian power • He is solely responsible for the victory • Hathor (sky goddess) presides over her son’s • triumph • Horus, the takes captive the hieroglyphic for • Lower Egypt Horus Narmer

8. Intertwined necks of the cats may symbolize Egypt’s unification • Multiple perspectives – dead are seen from above while Narmer is seen from profile • Kings superior rank indicated by size and isolation • Lower register with the bull symbolizes king’s superhuman strength • Narrative devices: Registers don’t tell a sequential narrative but are instead symbolic of the pharaoh's triumph and divine status How is the subject matter visually represented / presented? (FA) Felines

9. THE SPIRITUAL WORLD AND RITUAL IN ART AND LIFE • Fertility of the Nile offered prosperity and security • The Egyptians wanted to carry their prosperity and security with them into the afterlife • ART FUNCTIONED AS A CONDUIT THAT ENSURED A COMFORTABLE AFTERLIFE • They believed that artistic depictions had an impact beyond the image itself—tomb scenes of the deceased receiving food, or temple scenes of the king performing perfect rituals for the gods—were functionally causing those things to occur in the divine realm. • If the image of the bread loaf was omitted from the deceased’s table, they had no bread in the Afterlife; if the king was depicted with the incorrect ritual implement, the ritual was incorrect and this could have dire consequences. This belief led to an active resistance to change in their artistic depictions.

10. Old Kingdom Sculpture What are the facts? (F) Artist: Trades Person Patron: Khafre, Pharaoh Title: Khafre enthroned Date: 2,520 BCE Period/Style: Old Kingdom Size: 5’ 6” Location / findspot: Pharaoh’s Valley temple What is the medium and technique? (M) Diorite (transported 400 miles), Subtracted method

11. What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) Portrait of Khafre (pharaoh) on his thrown protected by Horus

12. WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA) • PHYSICAL LOCATION • Housed in the Pharaoh’s temple which served as a burial tomb, Not meant to be seen by the living • 2. Patron • Pharaoh • 3. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS • Divine Kings – Pharaohs • Believed that a person possessed a ka – • A type of soul – when a person died their ka lived on • For the ka to live securely the body had to remain intact = mummification • Statues in tombs also provided a dwelling place for the ka and secured permanence for the identity of the deceased = immortality FUNCTION: Funerary Object

13. How is the subject matter visually represented? How do the visual qualities support the function? (FA) Rigid and upright Idealized body and perfect features – consistent with the Divine nature of the king His compact and still form (no movement) radiates serenity The form manifests the purpose: to last an eternity No movement = frozen in time, attached to the throne and rock Bilaterally Symmetrical body Horus extend his protective wings over his head Wearing the royal false beard and nemes headdress Lotus and papyrus plants on throne = unified Egypt Bilaterally symmetrical

14. What are the facts? (F) Artist: Trades Person Patron: Unknown Title: Date: 2,500 BCE Period/Style: Old Kingdom Size: 1’ 9” Location / findspot: Necropolis in Saqqara Egypt What is the medium and technique? (M) Carved and painted limestone What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) A scribe

15. WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA) • PHYSICAL LOCATION • Necropolis • 2. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS • Believed that a person possessed a ka – • A type of soul – when a person died their ka lived on • For the ka to live securely the body had to remain intact = mummification • Statues in tombs also provided a dwelling place for the ka and secured permanence for the identity of the deceased = immortality FUNCTION: Funerary Object

16. How is the subject matter visually represented? (FA) Small, Lifelike, naturalistic and individualized features – but not a true portrait, he is a type He has a sense of feeling and personality That the Pharaoh’s sculpture is lacking – Indicates the he is not divine No throne, more relaxed pose but he is serene, Which is in line with the function of the Sculpture as a dwelling place for the ka. Holding paper – indicates his job as a scribe Fat belly indicates wealth and comfort of his Position Sagging skin indicates age

17. Middle Kingdom What are the facts? (F) Artist: Trades Person Patron: Sensurett II (pharaoh) Title: Sensuret II (pharaoh Date: 1,860 BCE Period/Style: Middle Kingdom Size: 6’ 6” Location / findspot: Egypt What is the medium and technique? (M) Carved stone

18. What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) Sunsurett II - Pharaoh How is the subject matter visually represented? (FA) Breaks convention with style of Old Kingdom Pharaoh statues Posture is still compact and body idealized, his Facial features are naturalistic and expressive Pessimistic expression with drooping lines around the mouth, heavily lidded eyes, shaded brow

19. WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA) • PHYSICAL LOCATION • Necropolis • 2. Patron • Pharaoh • 3. Historical Events • Establishment of Middle Kingdom puts end to period of anarchy • Fought brutal military campaign in Nubia – never secured total control • Established central government in Egypt with better success • Meaning/Function: Depiction of • ofa determined ruler marked with anxiety. Communicates the mood of the era.