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© Bruce M. White, 2015.
Portrait of King Amenemhat III
© Bruce M. White, 2015.
© Bruce M. White, 2015.
© Bruce M. White, 2015.
ClassificationsAncient Egyptian Art

Portrait of King Amenemhat III

CultureEgyptian
PeriodMiddle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, Reign of Amenemhat III
Date1818-1773 BCE
MediumLimestone
Credit LineGift of Jack Josephson and Magda Saleh
Object number2013.024.001
Label TextThis head belongs to Amenemhat III, the sixth king of Dynasty 12 in the Middle Kingdom. Sculptures of Amenemhat III are remarkably diverse, making it virtually impossible to assign works to a segment of the king's reign. Amenemhat III's representations are considered by many Egyptologists to be a high point in ancient Egyptian sculpture.|

The king wears the nemes headcloth and the royal uraeus on his brow. Lightly modeled brows rest above the ruler's sunken eye sockets. His eyes are oval and crowned by heavy upper lids. The preserved ear is pushed forward by the nemes and is large. The nose is destroyed. The edges of the king's mouth curl up into a slight smile. What identifies this head with Amenemhat III is the king's characteristically large ears and jutting lower jaw. Later Middle Kingdom kings copied Amenemhat III's stylistic features. However, these renderings often resulted in hardened caricatures of a once great sculptural style.
Exhibition HistoryMCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, September 2013 - Present
Published ReferencesChristie's New York, Antquities (June 6, 2013), 118, lot 663.
ProvenanceEx coll. Maurice Tempelsman, New York, New York, early 1970s. With Robin Symes, London, England. Ex coll. Jack A. Josephson, New York, New York. With Christie's New York, June 6, 2013, lot 663 (unsold).
Status
On view
Collections
  • Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art