ClassificationsAncient Egyptian Art

Royal Head

Place CreatedEgypt, Africa

CultureEgyptian

PeriodMiddle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, Reign of Senwosret III - Amenemhet III

Date1837-1773 BCE

MediumGreywacke

Credit LineGift of the Morgens West Foundation

Dimensions4 5/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 7/8 in. (11.8 x 4.4 x 7.3 cm)

Object number2005.017.002

Label TextEgypt’s Middle Kingdom was born out of the political and societal upheaval of the First Intermediate Period. Literature and art of the Middle Kingdom reflect an increased anxiety and awareness of the chaos found in the world. This can most readily be seen in royal portraits of Senwosret III and Amenemhet III. Hooded eyes, downturned mouths, sunken facial features, and large ears give the kings the appearance of someone who is fatigued from bearing the weight of his office and its responsibilities. For the first time in ancient Egyptian art, royal faces reflect the tension between the human experience of the individual ruler and the divine nature of Egyptian kingship.

For an Egyptian king, one of their most important functions was to perform rituals for the gods, thus ensuring order was maintained. Small scale statuettes, such as this piece, were given as offerings on behalf of the king to state deities, such as Amun. They served as a permanent reminder of the king’s important role in the temple cult and his devotion to the gods of Egypt.
Exhibition HistoryFrom Pharaohs to Emperors: New Egyptian and Classical Antiquities at Emory, Michael C. Carlos Museum, January 14 - April 2, 2006
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, 2006 - Present
Published ReferencesCharles Ede Ltd., Egyptian Antiquities (2004), number 11.
Rupert Wace Ancient Art (2005), number 37.
Peter Lacovara and Jasper Gaunt, "From Pharaohs to Emperors: Egyptian, Near Eastern & Classical Antiquities at Emory," Minerva 17 (January/February 2006): 9-16.

Terms

sculpture (visual works)

ProvenanceEx private collection, France. With Charles Ede Ltd., London, England, acquired from Jean-Philippe Mariaud de Serres (1944-2007) [Galerie Serres], Paris, France, November 5, 2003. With Rupert Wace Ancient Art, Ltd., London, England, purchased from Charles Ede Ltd. Purchased by MCCM from Rupert Wace.

Status

On view

Collections