Art History I – Prehistory to Middle Ages

🎨Art History I – Prehistory to Middle Ages Unit 5 – Ancient Egyptian Art: Sculpture & Architecture

Ancient Egyptian art, spanning over 3,000 years, served religious and political purposes. From the Early Dynastic Period to the Ptolemaic Period, it glorified gods, kings, and the afterlife. The Old Kingdom established artistic conventions that persisted for centuries. Key sculptural works include the Great Sphinx, Seated Scribe, and Nefertiti's bust. Architectural marvels like the Great Pyramid of Giza and Karnak Temple Complex showcase Egyptian ingenuity. Artists used various materials and techniques, incorporating symbolism and iconography to convey complex beliefs.

Key Concepts and Timeline

  • Ancient Egyptian art spans over 3,000 years from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100 BCE) to the Ptolemaic Period (30 BCE)
  • Art served religious and political purposes, glorifying gods, kings, and the afterlife
  • Old Kingdom (c. 2686-2181 BCE) marked by the construction of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx
    • Established canonical forms and conventions in art that persisted for centuries
  • Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BCE) saw a resurgence in artistic production after a period of decline
    • Innovations in sculpture, such as the block statue and the seated scribe
  • New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE) was a golden age of Egyptian art and architecture
    • Monumental temples (Karnak, Luxor) and elaborate tomb complexes (Valley of the Kings) constructed
  • Late Period (c. 1069-332 BCE) characterized by a return to traditional forms and motifs
    • Increased influence from foreign cultures, particularly the Greeks and Romans

Major Sculptural Works

  • The Great Sphinx of Giza, a monumental limestone statue with a human head and a lion's body, likely depicting Pharaoh Khafre (c. 2558-2532 BCE)
  • Seated Scribe, a painted limestone sculpture from the Old Kingdom, depicting a lifelike figure engaged in writing (c. 2450 BCE)
  • Khafre Enthroned, a diorite statue showcasing the pharaoh's power and divine status (c. 2520 BCE)
  • Bust of Nefertiti, a painted limestone bust of Queen Nefertiti, renowned for its elegance and beauty (c. 1345 BCE)
    • Discovered in the workshop of sculptor Thutmose in Amarna
  • Colossal statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel, depicting the pharaoh in a seated position, symbolizing his power and eternal presence (c. 1279-1213 BCE)
  • Ka statue of King Hor, a wooden sculpture embodying the king's life force, or ka, for the afterlife (c. 1783-1650 BCE)

Iconic Architectural Achievements

  • The Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest and largest of the three pyramids, built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu (c. 2551 BCE)
    • Originally stood at 481 feet tall and was the tallest man-made structure for nearly 4,000 years
  • Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Menkaure, completing the Giza pyramid complex (c. 2520 BCE and c. 2490 BCE, respectively)
  • Karnak Temple Complex, the largest religious building ever constructed, dedicated to the god Amun-Ra (c. 2055-100 BCE)
    • Features the Great Hypostyle Hall with 134 massive columns
  • Luxor Temple, a large New Kingdom temple complex connected to Karnak by the Avenue of Sphinxes (c. 1400-1200 BCE)
  • Temple of Hatshepsut, a mortuary temple for the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, featuring innovative terraced design (c. 1479-1458 BCE)
  • Abu Simbel, two massive rock-cut temples built by Ramesses II, featuring colossal statues and intricate reliefs (c. 1264 BCE)

Materials and Techniques

  • Sculptors worked with a variety of materials, including limestone, granite, diorite, wood, and precious metals
  • Stone sculptures were created using copper chisels, bronze saws, wooden rollers and sleds, and abrasive sand
    • Artisans would begin with a rough block of stone and gradually refine the form
  • Lost-wax casting technique used for small-scale metal sculptures and jewelry
    • Involved creating a wax model, encasing it in clay, melting the wax, and pouring molten metal into the mold
  • Reliefs carved into stone surfaces using chisels and mallets, with varying depths to create a sense of dimension
    • Sunken relief: figures cut into the stone surface
    • Raised relief: figures projecting from the background
  • Paintings created using mineral pigments mixed with water and applied to stone, wood, or papyrus
    • Used a limited palette of colors, each with symbolic meanings (e.g., blue for the Nile, green for vegetation, yellow for the sun)

Symbolism and Iconography

  • Hieroglyphic writing system incorporated into art, conveying names, titles, and prayers
  • Divine kingship a central theme, with pharaohs depicted as intermediaries between gods and humans
    • Pharaohs often shown wearing the double crown, symbolizing their rule over Upper and Lower Egypt
  • Gods and goddesses represented with human bodies and animal heads, each associated with specific attributes and roles
    • Horus, the sky god and protector of the pharaoh, depicted with a falcon head
    • Anubis, the god of mummification and the afterlife, portrayed with a jackal head
  • Ankh, the symbol of life, often held by gods and pharaohs in sculptures and reliefs
  • Was scepter, representing power and dominion, frequently depicted in the hands of kings and deities
  • False beard, a symbol of divine authority, worn by pharaohs in ceremonial depictions

Cultural and Religious Context

  • Ancient Egyptian art deeply intertwined with religion and the belief in the afterlife
  • Tombs and mortuary temples designed to ensure the pharaoh's successful journey and eternal life in the afterworld
    • Filled with sculptures, reliefs, and paintings to magically provide for the deceased's needs
  • Temples served as houses for the gods, where daily rituals and festivals were performed by priests
    • Reliefs and inscriptions on temple walls recorded the pharaoh's interactions with the gods and his role in maintaining cosmic order
  • Art production was largely controlled by the state and the priesthood, serving to reinforce the power of the pharaoh and the religious hierarchy
  • Artistic conventions, such as the use of a grid system and the combination of frontal and profile views, maintained for thousands of years
    • Reflected the Egyptian belief in the importance of order, stability, and continuity

Influence on Later Art

  • Ancient Egyptian art had a profound impact on the art of neighboring cultures, particularly in the Near East and the Mediterranean
  • Greek and Roman artists drew inspiration from Egyptian sculpture and architecture
    • Adapted Egyptian motifs, such as the sphinx and the obelisk, into their own artistic traditions
  • Egyptian Revival style emerged in Europe and America in the 19th century, following Napoleon's campaigns in Egypt
    • Influenced architecture, decorative arts, and graphic design
  • 20th-century artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, found inspiration in the simplified forms and bold colors of Egyptian art
    • Incorporated Egyptian elements into their avant-garde works
  • Contemporary artists continue to engage with ancient Egyptian art, reinterpreting its symbols and motifs in new contexts
    • Yinka Shonibare's "Scramble for Africa" series uses Egyptian imagery to comment on colonialism and cultural identity

Key Figures and Patrons

  • Imhotep, the architect and high priest credited with designing the first pyramid, the Step Pyramid of Djoser (c. 2670 BCE)
  • Pharaoh Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest and most famous of the Egyptian pyramids (c. 2551 BCE)
  • Senenmut, the chief architect and advisor to Queen Hatshepsut, responsible for the design of her mortuary temple (c. 1473-1458 BCE)
  • Amenhotep III, a New Kingdom pharaoh known for his extensive building projects and patronage of the arts (c. 1390-1352 BCE)
    • Commissioned the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues guarding his mortuary temple
  • Akhenaten, the controversial pharaoh who introduced a new artistic style focused on naturalism and the worship of the sun god Aten (c. 1353-1336 BCE)
  • Ramesses II, one of the most celebrated pharaohs, known for his monumental building projects and patronage of the arts (c. 1279-1213 BCE)
    • Commissioned the Abu Simbel temples and the Ramesseum, his mortuary temple
  • Ptolemaic rulers, the Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great, blending Greek and Egyptian artistic traditions (305-30 BCE)
    • Commissioned the Temple of Edfu and the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis


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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.