Characteristics and Images

Characteristics Balance and Symmetry Balance and Symmetry Measured Proportions Measured Proportions Geometric Basis Geometric Basis Multiple View Points Multiple View Points Scale Scale Naturalistic Details Naturalistic Details Depiction of Animals Depiction of Animals Color Color Surface Contrasts Surface Contrasts

Balance and Symmetry Balanced Forms Balanced Forms Clear Outlines Clear Outlines Simplified Shapes Simplified Shapes Flat Areas of Color Flat Areas of Color Order and Clarity Order and Clarity Horizontal Registers Horizontal Registers Emotion and Activity usually avoided Emotion and Activity usually avoided Value and Depth unimportant Value and Depth unimportant

Section from a Book of the Dead Thebes, Dynasty 21, ca B.C. Painted and inscribed papyrus, h. (of illustrated section) 13 3/4 in.

Measured Proportions Horizontal and Vertical Guidelines Horizontal and Vertical Guidelines Consistent Proportions Consistent Proportions Uniformity of balance regardless of scale Uniformity of balance regardless of scale Adds to Unity Adds to Unity Related to the width of the palm of the hand Related to the width of the palm of the hand

Measurements in palm width

Geometric Basis Cube Cube Horizontal Axis Horizontal Axis Vertical Axis Vertical Axis Guidelines on all sides Guidelines on all sides Figures seldom completely freed from stone Figures seldom completely freed from stone Sense of permanence Sense of permanence

Statue of Hatshepsut Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Dynasty 18, ca B.C. Limestone (originally painted), h. 76 3/4 in.

Multiple Points of View Two-dimensional rules for human figures Two-dimensional rules for human figures Each part of body in most complete form Each part of body in most complete form Shoulders from the front Shoulders from the front Torso and hips in three-quarter view so legs and arms in profile Torso and hips in three-quarter view so legs and arms in profile Head in profile to show both front and back Head in profile to show both front and back Eye seen from front looking at viewer Eye seen from front looking at viewer

Stela of a Middle Kingdom official Abydos, Dynasty 12, ca B.C. Painted limestone, 41 x 19 5 /8 in.

Scale Size indicates relative importance Size indicates relative importance King often larger than life to show powers King often larger than life to show powers Wives, family, servants, animals, architectural details smaller than high officials or tomb owners Wives, family, servants, animals, architectural details smaller than high officials or tomb owners

Nikare and his family Saqqara, Dynasty 5, ca B.C. Painted limestone, h. 22 1/2 in.

Naturalistic Details Keen observation of nature Keen observation of nature Sublte indications of musculature and bone structure Sublte indications of musculature and bone structure

Statuette of an offering bearer Thebes, tomb of Meketre, early Dynasty 12, ca B.C. Gessoed and painted wood, h. 44 1/8 in.

Depicting Animals Animals often appear Animals often appear Usually symbols associated with life after death Usually symbols associated with life after death

Ivory hunting dog Late Dynasty 18, B.C. Ivory, tinted red inside mouth and black around eyes and on undersides of paws, l. 7 1/8 in.

Color Use of pure colors Use of pure colors Both warm and cool Both warm and cool Aesthetic appeal plus symbolic meaning Aesthetic appeal plus symbolic meaning Blue and Green—water, the Nile, and vegetation Blue and Green—water, the Nile, and vegetation Yellow and Gold—sun, the sun god Yellow and Gold—sun, the sun god Red and Orange—desert, power, blood, and vitality Red and Orange—desert, power, blood, and vitality Lighter and darker skin tones used to differentiate overlapping figures Lighter and darker skin tones used to differentiate overlapping figures Men—reddish brown skin Men—reddish brown skin Women—yellow-tan skin Women—yellow-tan skin

Fragment of a battle scene Thebes, Asasif, Dynasty 18, probably reign of Thutmosis IV (ca B.C.) Painted sandstone, 24 x 45 1/4 in.

Surface Contrasts Stone sculpture Stone sculpture Highly polished Highly polished Rough finely incised details and patterns Rough finely incised details and patterns

Canopic jar with a lid in the shape of a royal woman's head Thebes, Tomb 55, Valley of the Kings, Dynasty 18, late reign of Akhenaten (ca B.C.) or shortly after Alabaster with glass and stone inlays; h. 20 1/2 in.

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