lecture 4 - Egypt

Neolithic wall carvings

Predynastic: figurines - small statue of a King of Upper Egypt - Mesopotamian influences; small idols

end of predynastic period / beginning of Old Kingdom -
Palette of Narmer (c. 3100 BC) early beginning of Egyptian 'style'

Zoser - Portrait Statue (resting place for spirit), c. 2667 BC (3rd Dynasty); 4' 7"
- dominance of 'typical' Egyptian stylization
Portrait Statue of Chefron w/ Horus Falcon, c. 2560, (4th Dyn.)

statuette of a slave - absent of rigid 'official' stylization -
realism usually used on lower status 'types' (laborer, etc.) of individuals

Necropolis portrait heads c. 2500 BC
- many are realistic, but do not represent the 'top echelon' of leadership.
There are also natualistic sculptures of noblemen and scribes

a few wall paitings from tombs were seen in class, but have little to show by way of actual portraiture.
slides of sculptures of family groups were shown - these were sculptures for mausoleums

Nefertitti, (20") - c. 1360 BC
- reign of Ahkanatan, the revolutionary leader in religion & art whose influence did not outlast his lifetime

'Fayum' mummy portraits from Roman Egypt, c. 50 BC - 300 AD
integration of Egyptian religion with Greek painting techniques amongst colonies of immigrants

Home | Lecture 1 | Lecture 2 | Lecture 3 | Lecture 5