Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

Bra. xii. THE ADVANCED STATE OF ART 81

number and style to enable us to follow the principal
variations. The origin of this art is unknown to us ; it
begins with the monuments of the Fourth Dynasty, the
first to which we can assign a certain rank, in a state
decidedly advanced in many respects. Architecture
already shows an inconceivable perfection with regard
to the working and building up of blocks of great dimen-
sions ; the passages in the interior of the Great Pyramid
remain a model of exact "joiner's work" which has
never been surpassed. We are obliged to guess at the
exterior arrangement and ornamentation of the temples
of this first period, and to restore them from the bas-
reliefs of the tombs or the decoration of the sarcophagi.
This style of architecture was simple, but in the highest
degree noble ; the straight line and the play of outline
in the outer surfaces formed the whole force of the
decoration. One specimen of ornament alone gives a
certain life to these arrangements; namely, two lotus
leaves placed opposite to each other.

' The human form, alike in the statues and the
sculptures in relief, is distinguished by somewhat broad
and thick-set proportions; it seems that in the course
of centuries the race became thinner and more slender
under the influence of the soil and climate. In the
most ancient monuments, the imitation of nature was
aimed at with greater simplicity, and with a truer
regard to proportion: in the execution of the single
parts, the muscles especially stand out more powerfully,
and are strongly indicated. The human figures preserve
this character till near the end of the Twelfth Dynasty;
from this time forward they become more slender and
taller.

' Architecture had already made a great step for-
ward towards ornamentation. We find at this time the
first columns which have been preserved in Egypt to