DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0058
26
EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE.
statues, like the colossal rose-granite head of Thothmes III., in the British
Museum (Fig. 25). The rare rendering of the skin in this Memphitic head is
never met with in late Egyptian works, seldom even in Gra;co-Roman art, but
constitutes one of the royal peculiarities of Greek art in its prime.
A remarkable statue of a dwarf, now in Boolak, might be taken to represent
one who had held the position of court-fool, as this office existed under the
Pharaohs. The inscription tells us, however, that he was either a cook or chief
of perfumers, Nem-hotep by name ; and judging from the beauty of the tomb
he has built for himself, near the pyra-
mids where his statue was found, he
must have enjoyed great favor and
wealth. There is nothing conven-
tional in his freely moving legs and
arms. The thick-set, corpulent form
of this grotesque figure seems full of
life, as we see him rolling along with
straddling gait, his mouth encircled by
an expression of satirical humor.6la
Besides these statues, there are
many others of humbler type from this
remote date, but no less interesting on
account of their varied and pleasing
character. These works, representing
servants or mourners, unlike the statues
of their masters, have great diversity
of pose. We see a youth on his knees
(Fig. 10), rolling out bread, doubtless
for his master, interred in the tomb.
Form and face are those of the un-
gainly dwellers on the Nile; but his
limbs are well rounded, his pose nat-
ural, and instinct with free life. So,
also, a remarkable collection of six statues, now in the Boolak Museum, each
about forty-two centimeters high, reveal the ancient sculptor's skill in repre-
senting various positions.62 We see the cook with hands deep in the dough, or
on bended knees rolling it out. These statues could scarcely seem more life-
like did we recall the fact, recorded by Mariette, that in Nubia, even to-day,
women wear the same head-dress, — take the same pose, and use the same kind
of utensils, in making bread.
Another figure, seated on the ground with both knees up, holds between
them a vase, into which he thrusts his right hand. Another sits with both
knees up, and one arm thrown over his head, as though in the attitude of
Fin. 9. British Museum.
EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE.
statues, like the colossal rose-granite head of Thothmes III., in the British
Museum (Fig. 25). The rare rendering of the skin in this Memphitic head is
never met with in late Egyptian works, seldom even in Gra;co-Roman art, but
constitutes one of the royal peculiarities of Greek art in its prime.
A remarkable statue of a dwarf, now in Boolak, might be taken to represent
one who had held the position of court-fool, as this office existed under the
Pharaohs. The inscription tells us, however, that he was either a cook or chief
of perfumers, Nem-hotep by name ; and judging from the beauty of the tomb
he has built for himself, near the pyra-
mids where his statue was found, he
must have enjoyed great favor and
wealth. There is nothing conven-
tional in his freely moving legs and
arms. The thick-set, corpulent form
of this grotesque figure seems full of
life, as we see him rolling along with
straddling gait, his mouth encircled by
an expression of satirical humor.6la
Besides these statues, there are
many others of humbler type from this
remote date, but no less interesting on
account of their varied and pleasing
character. These works, representing
servants or mourners, unlike the statues
of their masters, have great diversity
of pose. We see a youth on his knees
(Fig. 10), rolling out bread, doubtless
for his master, interred in the tomb.
Form and face are those of the un-
gainly dwellers on the Nile; but his
limbs are well rounded, his pose nat-
ural, and instinct with free life. So,
also, a remarkable collection of six statues, now in the Boolak Museum, each
about forty-two centimeters high, reveal the ancient sculptor's skill in repre-
senting various positions.62 We see the cook with hands deep in the dough, or
on bended knees rolling it out. These statues could scarcely seem more life-
like did we recall the fact, recorded by Mariette, that in Nubia, even to-day,
women wear the same head-dress, — take the same pose, and use the same kind
of utensils, in making bread.
Another figure, seated on the ground with both knees up, holds between
them a vase, into which he thrusts his right hand. Another sits with both
knees up, and one arm thrown over his head, as though in the attitude of
Fin. 9. British Museum.