DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0056
24
EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE.
crystal (Fig. 7), and watching her speaking lips, we seem to know her very
thoughts. Her bunchy coiffure reminds one that it was usual in those
ancient days to wear a wig instead of the modern turban, as protection against
the scorching sun. Nefert's closely fitting snow-white garment beautifully
suggests a form in keeping with her rich, voluptuous face. A necklace,
and band about her hair, are all the ornaments she wears; the grace of her
whole appearance being due to charms
the sculptor has evidently.caught from
life.
To a somewhat later period, the
Fifth Dynasty, belongs that celebrated
wooden figure, now in Boolak, which,
at the Paris exposition of 1867, startled
the modern world from its false dream
as to the rigidity and cold conservatism
of all Egyptian statuary. This statue
(Fig. 2, p. 17), about 1.10 meter in
height, with its round, intelligent face
and obese form, shows us, not one of
the attenuated, wiry, southern Egyp-
tians, but a type frequent among the
villages of the Delta. When first dis-
covered, the Arabs were struck with
its resemblance to their own corpulent
village chief, and at once called it
Sheik-el-Beled (village chief). Although the lower part of the statue, with its
inscription, is lost, and the legs had to be restored, we learn from the tomb in
which it was found, that one Ra-em.-ka, a man who had held, among other
offices, that of governor of several provinces under different kings of the Fifth
Dynasty, was buried there. Ra-em-ka's front and back are strongly portrait-
like, and detailed in execution ; although the coating of stucco and paint is now
gone. We see a man who has become corpulent with increasing years, but
whose fat sags as he grows old. Around his waist is bound a short petticoat,
lying in folds in front, the rest of his form being nude, as was natural in a hot
climate. The naturalness of the body is intensified in the round head, with its
short hair, and speaking mouth and eyes, animated as bya smile. The con-
struction of the eyes makes them lifelike to an almost disturbing degree. They
are of that peculiar and somewhat intricate workmanship, employed in Cheops'
time,6' in which envelopes of bronze served as lids, into which was inserted a
piece of opaque white quartz. Into this was introduced another piece of
crystal, having in its middle a shining nail, which gives the eye its startling
and lifelike expression.
F/j. 7. Face of Ncfert.
EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE.
crystal (Fig. 7), and watching her speaking lips, we seem to know her very
thoughts. Her bunchy coiffure reminds one that it was usual in those
ancient days to wear a wig instead of the modern turban, as protection against
the scorching sun. Nefert's closely fitting snow-white garment beautifully
suggests a form in keeping with her rich, voluptuous face. A necklace,
and band about her hair, are all the ornaments she wears; the grace of her
whole appearance being due to charms
the sculptor has evidently.caught from
life.
To a somewhat later period, the
Fifth Dynasty, belongs that celebrated
wooden figure, now in Boolak, which,
at the Paris exposition of 1867, startled
the modern world from its false dream
as to the rigidity and cold conservatism
of all Egyptian statuary. This statue
(Fig. 2, p. 17), about 1.10 meter in
height, with its round, intelligent face
and obese form, shows us, not one of
the attenuated, wiry, southern Egyp-
tians, but a type frequent among the
villages of the Delta. When first dis-
covered, the Arabs were struck with
its resemblance to their own corpulent
village chief, and at once called it
Sheik-el-Beled (village chief). Although the lower part of the statue, with its
inscription, is lost, and the legs had to be restored, we learn from the tomb in
which it was found, that one Ra-em.-ka, a man who had held, among other
offices, that of governor of several provinces under different kings of the Fifth
Dynasty, was buried there. Ra-em-ka's front and back are strongly portrait-
like, and detailed in execution ; although the coating of stucco and paint is now
gone. We see a man who has become corpulent with increasing years, but
whose fat sags as he grows old. Around his waist is bound a short petticoat,
lying in folds in front, the rest of his form being nude, as was natural in a hot
climate. The naturalness of the body is intensified in the round head, with its
short hair, and speaking mouth and eyes, animated as bya smile. The con-
struction of the eyes makes them lifelike to an almost disturbing degree. They
are of that peculiar and somewhat intricate workmanship, employed in Cheops'
time,6' in which envelopes of bronze served as lids, into which was inserted a
piece of opaque white quartz. Into this was introduced another piece of
crystal, having in its middle a shining nail, which gives the eye its startling
and lifelike expression.
F/j. 7. Face of Ncfert.