Egyptian Reliefs, Murals and the Art of the Amarna Period – A BREAK WITH CONTINUITY

Tomb of Ti

WHAT ARE THE FACTS

ARTIST: TRADES PERSONPATRON: TI, PHAROAHTITLE: TI WATCHING A HIPOPOTAMUS HUNTPERIOD/STYLE: OLD KINGDON,EGYPTDATE: 2,500 5TH DYNASTYLOCATAION: SAQARRAWhat is the medium and

technique? (M)

BAS RELIEF, PAINTED LIMESTONE

What is the artworks content / subject matter? (SM) The Pharaoh Ti, on a Hippo hunt

WHY WAS IT CREATED (CA)

1. PHYSICAL LOCATIONTi’s mastabas in Saqarra

2. PATRONTi – Pharaoh

4. CONCEPTS AND IDEASThe 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 BOOKDate: End of New Kingdom

Medium: FRESCOE

SM: Nebamun HuntingFA:1. On a hunt but more active role and relaxed posture with movement2. Hierarchical scale and twisted perspective remain

SM: Funerary banquet in TombFA:1. Two women facing forward2. Dancers are lower class Move in profile – not twisted3. Attempted frontal pose of two musician4. 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 LOCATIONTomb of Nebaum

2. PATRONNebaumn was a scribe not a pharaoh

4. CONCEPTS AND IDEASNebamun enjoying himself in afterlifeBut asks viewers to recall how he got there

Symbol of hunting links him to HorusAn 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 PERSONPATRON: AKHENATON TITLE: AKHERNATON AND FAMILYPERIOD/STYLE: AMARNADATE: 1350

MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE (M)

BAS RELIEF, LIMESTON

SUBJECT MATTER (SM)FAMILY PORTRAIT WITH THE GODATON

1. PHYSICAL LOCATIONSmall portrait – for an alter in a home

2. PATRONNebaumn was a scribe not a pharaoh

4. CONCEPTS AND IDEASLove 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

WHAY WAS IT CREATED (CA)

HOW IS THE SUBJECT MATTERVISUALLY PRESENTED (FA)

1. Gestures of tenderness2. Cobra in the center of Aton’s disk established him as supreme god3. His rays turn to ankhs, the symbol for life4. By their noses – they are breathing in Aton’s Breath of life