Egyptian Reliefs, Murals and the Art
of the Amarna Period – A BREAK
WITH CONTINUITY
Tomb of Ti
WHAT ARE THE FACTS
What is the medium and
technique? (M)
BAS RELIEF, PAINTED LIMESTONE
ARTIST: TRADES PERSON
PATRON: TI, PHAROAH
TITLE: TI WATCHING A
HIPOPOTAMUS HUNT
PERIOD/STYLE: OLD KINGDON,
EGYPT
DATE: 2,500 5TH DYNASTY
LOCATAION: SAQARRA
What is the artworks
content / subject matter?
(SM)
The Pharaoh Ti, on a Hippo
hunt
WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)
1. PHYSICAL LOCATION
Ti’s mastabas in Saqarra
2. PATRON
Ti – Pharaoh
4. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS
The essential, controlled and godly
nature of the deceased.
Eternal life in the afterworld
FUNCTION: A portrayal of the deceased
eternal life in the afterlife, not a
portrayal of his activities while alive
How is the subject matter
visually represented?
How is the
meaning/function visually
conveyed (FA)
-
-
-
Size = rank – HIERARCHICAL
Emphasizes essential nature of the
pharaoh in posture – does not
capture likeness
Stiff and traditional pose contrasts
with the naturalistic style of the
servants and the animals
Hippos shown in frieze = narrative
device
Ti does nothing, he simply is – a
passive observer of the event – like
his KA
CANON OF PROPORTION
• Ignored variations in
body types and
devised a system of
proportion
1. Drew a grid on the
wall
2. Placed specific body
parts at specific
points o the grid
3. Example: height was
a fixed number of
squares – each body
part had a
predetermined size
Tomb of Nebamun: What difference in
visual qualities do you see from Ti’s
tomb?
FACTS: SEE TEXT BOOK
Date: End of New Kingdom
Medium: FRESCOE
SM: Nebamun Hunting
FA:
1. On a hunt but more active role and relaxed
posture with movement
2. Hierarchical scale and twisted perspective remain
SM: Funerary banquet in Tomb
FA:
1. Two women facing forward
2. Dancers are lower class
Move in profile – not
twisted
3. Attempted frontal pose of
two musician
4. Although family of
Nebamun is presented
formally the relaxation
of the rest of the scene
speaks to the loosening of
the strict rules of
representation in New
Kingdom
WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)
1. PHYSICAL LOCATION
Tomb of Nebaum
2. PATRON
Nebaumn was a scribe not a pharaoh
4. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS
Nebamun enjoying himself in afterlife
But asks viewers to recall how he got
there
Symbol of hunting links him to Horus
An symbolize triumph over death and
disorder.
Music and dance sacred to Hathor –
who aids the dead in their passage to
the other world
FUNCTION: YOU TELL ME!!!!
Akhenaton and the Armana Period
1353-35BCE
• Revolution in Egyptian
society and religion
• Akhenaton abandons
polytheism for the worship
of one god, Aton – sun disk
god
• HE GIVES HIMSELF THE
NAME AKHENATON WHICH
MEANS “ATON IS PLEASED”
• Only he and wife Nefertiti
could speak with Aton
• Brings Profound Changes in
art!!
What is style?
How does it Change?
Statue of Akhenaton
Statue of Kafre
Why the Change in Style
• Placed in Temple of Aton
• His body is misshapen – narrow waist,
weak arms, protruding belly, wide hips
and thighs
• Androgynous = a nod to Aton who had
no human form, he was a sun disk
• MEANING/FUNCTION OF STYLE
CHANGE:
An deliberate artistic reaction against
the traditional style. NEW RELIGION =
NEW STYLE
Nefertiti’s a New Spiritual Beauty
WHAT ARE THE FACTS
ARTIST: TRADES PERSON
PATRON: AKHENATON
TITLE: AKHERNATON AND
FAMILY
PERIOD/STYLE: AMARNA
DATE: 1350
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE (M)
BAS RELIEF, LIMESTON
SUBJECT MATTER (SM)
FAMILY PORTRAIT WITH THE GOD
ATON
HOW IS THE SUBJECT MATTER
VISUALLY PRESENTED (FA)
WHAY WAS IT CREATED (CA)
1. PHYSICAL LOCATION
Small portrait – for an alter in a home
2. PATRON
Nebaumn was a scribe not a pharaoh
4. CONCEPTS AND IDEAS
Love and domesticity
Family united and blissful under the
one and only true god, Aton
Establishes Aton as supreme being with
cobra symbol in the sun disk
Meaning/Function (MF) – Symbolizing
united rule of The pharaoh and his
wife
1. Gestures of tenderness
2. Cobra in the center of Aton’s disk
established him as supreme god
3. His rays turn to ankhs, the symbol for
life
4. By their noses – they are breathing in
Aton’s Breath of life