🎨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.
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