Chapter I: Preface

This present handbook is intended to aid in the understanding of Egyptian art, and the illustrations and descriptions are selected for that purpose only. The history of the art would require a far greater range of examples, in order to illustrate the growth and decay of each of the great periods; whereas here only the most striking works of each period are shown, in order to contrast the different civilisations. The origins and connections of the art in each age are scarcely touched, and the technical details are only such as are needed to see the conditions of the art. The archaeology of the subject would need as wide a treatment as the history, and these subjects can only appear here incidentally.

It should be noticed that the divisions of artistic periods are often not the same as those of political history. Politically, the history divides at the XVIIth dynasty with the fall of the Hyksos, and at the XXIInd dynasty with the rise of the Delta government. But artistically the changes are under Tahutmes I, when Syrian influences broke in, and under the XXVIth dynasty, when the classical Greeks began to dominate the art.

The effect of foreign influence in art is quite apart from political power; it is due to rival activities which may or may not mean a physical domination. The reader should ponder different cases, such as those of the spiral design of early Europe entering Egypt, of the Syrian and Cretan art in the XVIIIth dynasty, of the effect of Persia upon Greece, and of Greece upon Italy (both through Magna Graecia and the conquest of Greece), of the effect of the Goth, Lombard, and Northman on Europe, and of Japan on modern Europe. Some reflection on these great artistic movements will give a little insight as to the history of art.

Regarding the illustrations, I have thought it more useful to give details large enough to be clearly seen, rather than to contract too much surface into a space where it cannot well be studied. Portions of subjects are therefore often preferred to general views of a whole. The outlines of artistic value, such as contours of faces or figures, are left quite untouched, as an outline cannot be taken seriously which is dependent on the block-maker clearing a white or black ground. This latter treatment, unfortunately, puts out of artistic use many of the lavishly spaced plates of the Cairo Catalogue, where art is subjected to bibliophily. The liberal policy of all publications and photographs of the Cairo Museum being free of copyright, has enabled me to use many of the excellent untouched photographs of Brugsch Pasha and others. My best thanks are due to Freiherr von Bissing and the publisher of his _Denkmaeler Aegypt. Sculptur_, for permission to use figures 39, 44, 46, 48, 62, 111, and 112 from that work. Over a third of the illustrations here are from my own photographs not yet published, and principally taken for this volume.

W. M. F. P.

PERIODS AND KINGS REFERRED TO IN THIS VOLUME

Period. Dynasty. Names. B.C.

Prehistoric. 8000-5500
Early { I. Narmer, Mena, Zer, 5500-5400
kings. { II. Kha-sekhem, 5000
{ III. Zeser, Senoferu, 4900-4700

Pyramid { IV. Khufu, Khafra, Menkaura, 4700-4500
age: Old { V. Nofer-ar-ka-ra, Unas, 4400-4200
Kingdom. { VI. Pepy II, 4100-4000
IX. Khety, 3800

{ XI. Antef V, 3500
Middle { XII. Senusert I, Senusert II, 3400-3300
Kingdom. { Senusert III,
{ Amenemhat III, 3300-3259
{ XIII. Hor, 3200

New { XVIII. Aahmes, Queens Aah-hotep, 1587-1562
Kingdom. { Aahmes,
{ Tahutmes I, Tahutmes II, 1541-1481
{ Hatshepsut
{ Tahutmes III, Amenhotep II, 1481-1414
{ Tahutmes IV,
{ Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, 1414-1344
{ Tut-ankh-amen,
{ XIX. Sety I, Ramessu II, Merenptah, 1326-1214
{ Sety II, Tausert, 1214-1203
{ XX. Ramessu III, IV, XII, 1202-1129
XXI. Isiemkheb, 1050
XXII. Shishak kings, 952-749
XXIII. Pedubast, Pefaabast, 755-725
Ethiopian. XXV. Amenardys, Taharqa, Tanut-amen, 720-664
Saite. XXVI. Aahmes II, 570-526
XXX. Nekhthorheb (Nectanebo), 378-361
Ptolemies. Cleopatra Cocce, 130-106
Romans. 30-A.D. 640

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

1. THE CHARACTER OF EGYPTIAN ART 1

2. THE PERIODS AND SCHOOLS 11

3. THE STATUARY 29

4. THE RELIEFS 48

5. THE PAINTING AND DRAWING 55

6. THE ARCHITECTURE 62

7. THE STONE-WORKING 69

8. JEWELLERY 83

9. METAL WORK 98

10. GLAZED WARE AND GLASS 107

11. THE POTTERY 126

12. IVORY-WORKING 134

13. WOODWORK 137

14. PLASTER AND STUCCO 142

15. CLOTHING 147

16. EGYPT’S PLACE IN THE ART OF THE WORLD 152

INDEX 159

BIBLIOGRAPHY 166

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. Dynasty. Subject. Material. Source. Position. Page.

_Scenery._

1 XVIII Temple below Limestone Deir el Thebes. 4
cliffs. Bahri.

2 … Palms and canal. … Illahun. Fayum. ”

_Periods._

3 Prehist. Dog and deer. Ivory. ? Petrie Coll. 13

4 ” Bull and enemy. Slate. ? Louvre. ”

5 IV Servant of Ainofer. Limestone. Saqqareh. Cairo Mus. ”

6 XII Senusert I. ” Memphis. Carlsberg M. ”

7 XVIII Servant of ” Tomb. Thebes. 19
Kha-em-hat.

8 XIX Sons of Ramessu II. Sandstone. Luqsor. ” ”

9 XXVI Aahmes-si- Limestone. Memphis. Cambridge. ”
neit-rannu.

10 Ptolem. Cleopatra Cocce. Sandstone. ” Kom Ombo. ”

_Schools._

11 XIX Ramessu II. Black Eastern Turin. 24
granite. desert.

12 ” ” Hard Memphis. Memphis. ”
limestone.

13 ” ” Red granite. Aswan. Thebes. ”

14 ” ” Sandstone. Nubia. Abu Simbel. ”

_Sculpture._

15 Prehist. Female figure. Ivory. ? Petrie Coll. 30

16 ” ” ” Limestone. Naqadeh. Oxford Mus. ”

17 ” Male heads. Ivory. ? Petrie Coll. ”

18 ” Lion. Limestone. ? ” ”

19, I Narmer? head; ” ? ” 32
20 sculptor’s study.

21 I King standing. Ivory. Abydos. British ”
Mus.

22 II Head of Kha-sekhem. Limestone. Hierakon- Oxford Mus. ”
polis.

23 III Head of Mertitefs. ” ? Leyden Mus. 33

24 ” Head of Nofert. ” Medum. Cairo Mus. ”

25 IV Head of Ka-aper. Wood. Saqqareh. ” ”

26 ” Female figure. Wood. ” ” ”

27 ” Khafra. Diorite. Gizeh. ” 34

28 ” Head of Khafra. Cast. ” ” ”

29 V Scribe seated. Limestone. Saqqareh. Louvre. 35

30 ” Family of Khui. ” ” Cairo Mus. ”

31 ” Ranofer. ” ” ” ”

32 XII Head of Senusert I. ” Lisht. ” 39

33 ” ” Senusert Red Karnak. ” ”
III. granite.

34 ? ” Sphinx. Black Tanis. ” ”
granite.

35 XII ” Amenemhat Grey ? Univ. Coll., ”
III. granite. Lond.

36 XVIII ” statue. Quartzite. Thebes. Cairo Mus. 42

37 ” ” Tahutmes Basalt. Karnak. ” ”
III.

38 ” ” Tut-ankh- Grey ” ” ”
amen. granite.

39 ” ” Akhenaten. Limestone. Thebes. Louvre. ”

40 ” Young negress. Ebony. ? Petrie Coll. 43

41 ” Girl on tray Wood. ? Louvre. ”
handle.

42 ” Girl playing lute. ” Sedment. Univ. Coll., ”
Lond.

43 XIX Head of Ramessu II. Black Thebes. Turin Mus. 44
granite.

44 ” ” Bak-en- Hard ” Munich Mus. ”
khonsu. limestone.

45 ” ” Merenptah. Black ” Cairo Mus. ”
granite.

46 XXV ” Taharqa. Black ” ” ”
granite.

47 ” ” Amenardys. Alabaster. ” ” 46

48 ” ” Mentu-em- Black Karnak. ” ”
hat. granite.

49 XXX ” man (cast). Basalt. Memphis. Berlin Mus. ”

50 Ptol. ” woman Wood. ? ” ”
(coffin).

_Reliefs._

51 Prehist. Hyaena and calf. Limestone. Koptos. Cairo Mus. 48

52 Prehist. Gazelles and palms. Slate. ? Oxford and ”
Louvre.

53 ” Group of animals. ” Hierakon- Oxford Mus. ”
polis.

54 ” Narmer and enemy. ” Hierakon- Cairo Mus. ”
polis.

55 III Ra-hesy, half Wood. Saqqareh. ” _Front._
length.

56 V Sacrificing bull. Limestone. Ty tomb. Saqqareh. 51

57 ” Oxherd. ” Ptah-hotep ” ”
tomb.

58 XI Toilet of princess. ” Deir el Cairo Mus. 52
Bahri.

59 XII Heads of Ptah and ” Karnak. ” ”
Senusert I.

60 XVIII Hatshepsut. ” Deir el Thebes. 53
Bahri.

61 ” Servant of Kha-em-hat. ” Tomb. ” ”

62 ” Akhenaten and queen. ” ? Berlin Mus. ”

63 XX Bulls in marsh. Sandstone. Medinet, Thebes. 54
Habu.

64 XXVI Youths and girls Limestone. Memphis. Cairo Mus. ”
with animals.

_Paintings._

65 Prehist. Men fighting, vase. Pottery. ? Petrie Coll. 56

66 ” Ship, vase. ” ? Cairo Mus. ”

67 ” Ship, tomb. Fresco. Hierakon- ” ”
polis.

68 III Geese walking. ” Medum. ” ”

69 XVIII Pelicans and keeper. ” Horemheb Thebes. 57
tomb.

70 ” Gleaning girls. ” Menna ” ”
tomb.

71 ” Harvesters. ” Nekht ” ”
tomb.

72 ” Pattern in stages. ” Amenmes ” 58
tomb.

73 ” Boating scene. ” Menna ” ”
tomb.

74 ” Guests and girl. ” Nekht ” ”
tomb.

75 ” Girl somersaulting. Limestone. Thebes? Turin Mus. 60

76 ” Young princesses. Fresco. Tell-el- Oxford Mus. ”
Amarna.

77 XVIII Man hauling rope. Fresco. Amenmes Thebes. ”
tomb.

78 ” Four races. Rock wall. Rames ” ”
tomb.

79 XIX Man adoring. Limestone. Thebes. Cairo Mus. ”

80 ” Sety I offering to Rock pillar. Tomb of Thebes. ”
Osiris. Sety I.

_Architecture._

81 IV Temple of Khafra. Red granite. Gizeh. … 66

82 XX ” Ramessu Sandstone. Medinet Thebes. ”
III. Habu.

83 Ptolem. Temple of Ergamenes. ” Dakkeh. Nubia. ”

84 V Palm column, Unas. Red granite. Saqqareh. Cairo Mus. 67

85 ” Rose lotus capital. Limestone. ” ” ”

86 ” Blue lotus capital. ” Abusir. ” ”

_Stone working._

87 Pre-XVIII Stone vases. Various. Various. ” 78

88 XVIII Trial piece, Limestone. Thebes. Petrie Coll. ”
king’s head.

89 ? Figure in first Rock-crystal. ? ” ”
outlines.

90 Ptolem. Lion’s head in Limestone. ? ” ”
outlines.

91 XVIII? Man’s head, ” Thebes. ” ”
unfinished.

92 Prehist. Flint knives, etc. Chert. Naqadeh, ” 81
etc.

_Jewellery._

93 I Bracelets, gold, Amethyst. Tomb of Cairo Mus. 87
turquoise. Zer.

94 VI Chain. Gold. Mahasnah. ” ”

95 ” ? Seal with hawk ” ? Petrie Coll. ”
heads.

96 XII Uraeus, wire work. ” ? ” ”

97 ” Pectoral of Senusert ” Dahshur. Cairo Mus. 88
II.

98 ” ” ” ” ” ” ”
III.

99 ” Inlaid crown of Gold and ” ” 90
Khnumt. stones.

100 ” Floret ” Gold and ” ” ”
stones.

101 ” Granulated work. Gold. ” ” ”

102 XVIII Bracelet of Aahmes. Gold and Thebes. ” 92
lazuli.

103 XVIII Dagger of Aahmes. Gold and Thebes. Cairo Mus. ”
bronze.

104 ” Axe of Aahmes. Gold and ” ” ”
bronze.

105 XIX Pectoral of Gold and Saqqareh. Louvre. 94
Ramessu II. stones.

106 XX Earrings of Gold. Abydos. Cairo Mus. ”
Ramessu XII.

107 XXV Statuette of ” Ehnasya. Boston Mus. ”
Hershefi.

108 XXVI? Bowls from temple. Silver. Mendes. Cairo Mus. 96

109 Rom.? Chain fastening. Gold. ? Petrie Coll. ”

_Metal-working._

110 VI Head of prince. Copper. Hierakon- Cairo Mus. 100
polis

111 XXV? Bust of Takushet. Gold in ? Athens Mus. ”
bronze.

112 ” ” ” side. ” ? ” ”

113 XVIII Flask of sandal Bronze. ? Petrie Coll. 101
washer.

114 XIX Fluted vases. ” Abydos. Cairo Mus. ”

115 XXII? Anti-splash bowl. Silver. Bubastis. Petrie Coll. ”

_Glaze and Glass._

116 I Inlaid glazes Green and Abydos. Brit. Mus. 108
of Mena. violet glaze.

117 XX Lotus and grape Coloured Yehudiyeh. Cairo Mus. ”
border. glaze.

118 XXVI Head of Isis. Blue glaze. ? Petrie Coll. ”

119 ” Royal fan-bearer. ” ? ” ”

120 XVIII Dragged pattern Coloured ? British Mus. 120
vase. glass.

121 ” ” ” ” ? ” ”

122 Ptol. Coloured mosaics. Glass. ? Petrie Coll. ”

_Ivory._

123 IV Khufu. Ivory. Abydos. Cairo Mus. 136

124 VI? Girl standing. ” ? Petrie Coll. ”

125 XXVI Lotus flower. ” Memphis. Edin. Mus. ”

126 ” Man with offerings. ” ” ” ”

_Wood._

127 XVIII Bracing of chair. Wood. Tomb of Cairo Mus. 137
Yuaa.

128 ” Chair of Sitamen. ” ” ” ”

129 ” Coffer of Wood ” ” ”
Amenhotep III. inlaid.

130 ” ” ” ” ” ” ”

131 ” Couch of Yuaa. Wood. ” ” ”

_Plaster._

132 XVIII Reliefs on chariot. Stucco on Tomb of Cairo Mus. 144
wood. Tahutmes.

133 Ptol. Lion’s head, Plaster. ? Petrie Coll. ”
casting.

134 ” King’s head, casting. ” ? ” ”

135 Roman. Man’s head from ” ? ” 146
coffin.

136 ” ” ” ” Kom el Cairo Mus. ”
Ahmar.

137 ” Woman’s head from ” ? Petrie Coll. ”
coffin.

138 ” Man’s head and skull. ” Hu. British Mus. ”

_Clothing._

139 XVIII Woven patterns, Thread. Tomb of Cairo Mus. 148
Amenhotep II. Tahutmes IV.

140 ” Cut-out network. Leather. ” ” ”

Arts and Crafts of Ancient Egypt