1. WESTERN ART EGYPTIAN ART

3. Egyptian art remain unchanged for over 3000 years Overriding concern? Comfortable after-life for rulers Egypt sustained the world’s first large scale unified state for three millenia Egyptology Much of what we know comes from tombs In contrast to Mesopotamia- preservation Materials built to last- granite, diorite Stylized, static artwork 15 x age of US, ten years ago? Influential to almost every culture that followed

4. EGYPTIAN ART The Nile- influence

5. EGYPTIAN ART First artist- Imhotep What he created- step pyramid at Sakkara First pyramid commission- King Zoser Mastaba- low rectangular tombs Step Pyramid at Sakkara Started as large Mastaba 2600 BC

6. EGYPTIAN ART Not made to be seen Criticism of lack of realism Found in tombs to be with Pharaoh in afterlife Pyramids began in 2575 BC with Pyramids of Giza

7. EGYPTIAN ART Pyramids Stones cut so accurately- even with rudimentary tools, could barely fit a knife b’t the surfaces Faced with polished limestone to reflect the sun

8. EGYPTIAN ART

9. Great Pyramids were all guarded by the Sphinx, who sits facing the sunrise 240 ft long, carved from rocky ledge Face from limestone

10. EGYPTIAN ART Palette of King Narmer So valuable Its never Been Allowed To Leave The Country!

11. EGYPTIAN ART functional, used for grinding pigments for eyeliner Also potentially had ritual symbolism

12. EGYPTIAN ART Old Kingdom Sculptures Three types- standing, seated, sitting on floor Cut from single blocks of slate, limestone Some painted All stylized and frontal

13. EGYPTIAN ART Mycerinus and His Queen 2470 BC Slate 56” Arms rigid, face forward, each left foot forward All engaged to adjoining surfaces Built third pyramid at Giza

14. EGYPTIAN ART Katep and His Wife 2563 BC Painted limestone Painted for added realism Katep- nobleman Non official sculpture Eyes painted on, rather than use of jewels or stones

15. EGYPTIAN ART Middle Kingdom Architecture shifted from pyramids to funerary temples near Thebes Designed to hold mummies of rulers Part into cliff, part out (remember what this was called in India?) Craftspeople held honored positions in society

16. EGYPTIAN ART Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut 1480 BC

17. EGYPTIAN ART Stability- by Hatshepsut Different sculptures of Hatshepsut in various poses Representation masculine, glyphs female

18. EGYPTIAN ART Artwork done on papyrus, in register Last Judgment of Hu-Nefer 1290 BC - 1280 BC Thebes

19. EGYPTIAN ART Temple of Amun-Re and Hypostyle Hall in Karnak Hypostyle hall- space with a roof held up by columns

20. EGYPTIAN ART Hypostyle Hall Karnak

21. EGYPTIAN ART Greenfield Papyrus 1080 BC shows importance of Egyptian gods in art Center- Shu- god of atmosphere, raises body of Nut- goddess of sky. Lower right corner- daughter of high priest and her soul (human bird) -registers -descriptive perspective (sizes)

22. EGYPTIAN ART Queen Nefertiti- the ideal of beautyNefertiti- Artist- Thutmose Treasure of Berlin Museum Found in studio of Thutmose- maybe a sculpture as a prototype Incomplete on purpose Limestone covered in plaster Face, headdress, neck lines Akhenaton commissioned, after he Made Egypt monotheistic- Aten

23. EGYPTIAN ART

24. Nefertiti is shown often as an equal Historians think she may have helped rule Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and their children blessed by the Aten (Solar Disk), relief from Akhetaten (Tell el-Amarna)

25. EGYPTIAN ART Akhenaton’s successor? His 9 yr old relative- Tutankhaten Moved capital back to Thebes- changed name to Tutankhamen Only ruled for 9 yrs- but his was the only tomb left untouched

26. EGYPTIAN ART

28. King Tut’s innermost coffin and ceremonial mask 1352 BC Gold with precious stones and glass

29. EGYPTIAN ART Mummy art- preparing the dead for the afterlife Extract brain from head via nose with metal hook Remove internal organs and place in separate jars Soak body in brine for a few weeks Hang pickled cadaver out to dry Stuff shriveled body Swaddle corpse in bandages Nest is coffins and a stone sarcophagus

30. EGYPTIAN ART In 1881, in the Valley of the Kings- 40 dead kings bodies were discovered- skin, teeth and hair still intact Ramses II Egyptian Museum, Cairo

31. EGYPTIAN ART Ramses II commissioned many sculptures and statues of himself Lined courtyards and other temple areas Ramses II 1257 BC Sculpted into cliff/ live rock Abu Simbel

32. EGYPTIAN ART QUESTIONS 1.How did the Nile River influence Egyptian Art? 2.Who was Imhotep? What is his importance in the history of art? 3.How do we know so much about Egyptian society and art? 4.Pick an example of sculpture from this powerpoint. How is it indicative of Egyptian art? List the name of the piece you chose. 5.What is the study of Egypt called? 6.What two words can mainly be used to describe Egyptian art? 7.What is a mastaba? 8.Where are the first Great Pyramids? 9.After pyramids, Pharaohs built what? 10.Who/ What guarded the Great Pyramids at Giza? 11.What piece is so valuable it can’t leave the country? What was its purpose, most likely? 12.What constitutes hypostyle? 13.What does descriptive perspective mean? 14.Why was King Tutankhamen’s tomb so impressive? 15.How glad are you that you didn’t have to be involved in the embalming process in ancient Egypt?