Art of Ancient Egypt

Nile River

ValleyEgypt was kept

separate from the rest

of the world for over

3000 years. There

were mountains to the

south, deserts on both

sides and the

Mediterranean Sea to

the north.

All their unique art

came from materials

found in the valley:

• Gold

•Turquoise

•Lapis

•Red coral

•Glass

types of Egyptian Art

• Painting

• Architecture

• Pottery

Egyptian paintings and their accompanying hieroglyphics tell stories about Egyptian life and the transition into the afterlife.

Egyptian Laws of Painting

• Animal and human images are shown from their most familiar angle

• Head, torso and legs depicted in profile, and eyes and shoulders depicted frontally.

• Hieroglyphics are the captions for the pictures and are usually shown facing the same direction as the image they describe. Most often to the left.

Twisted perspective

Hierarchal scale is used within the painting according to their relative importance.

• Pharaoh’s were shown in large scale

• High Officials were small

• Servants and animals were the smallest

• Pharaohs and Gods were shown the same size.

Hierarchal Scale

Egypt is known for the Pyramids. Pyramids were tombs for the Pharaoh. They housed their mummified remains, riches and the beloved items that they would need in the afterlife.

Architecture

The Egyptians made two

kinds of pottery

• The one, ordinary soft

pottery

– Similar to the one we

use in class.

• The other, a coarse, gritty

compound, loose in its

character and lacking

cohesion, sandy, easily

crumbled, very white, but

always covered with a

strong glaze or enamel.

– This material was

chiefly used for small

objects, seldom for

vases.

– The blue has never

been surpassed.

Pottery

Raised Relief Sculpture

• When the stone of

the background was

cut away, so that the

figures were left

standing out from the

surface.

– raised relief on interior

walls, because bright

sunlight has the effect

of flattening raised

relief.

Where the figures that are cut back within their outlines, leaving the surface of the background at a higher level.

– sunk relief was used on outside walls bright sunlight enhanced sunk relief.

Sunk Relief Sculpture

Symbolism in Egyptian art

Symbolism was very important to Egyptians

and their art told stories about how they

lived and what they hoped life would be

like after death.

The Scarab Beetle• Symbolized the Sun god

Khepri: – He who comes into

existance.

– Pushes the Sun across the sky

• Also known as dung beetles.

• Pharaohs would wear this symbol as amulets

• Placed over the heart of the deceased to help them pass on to the afterlife.

Assignment

• Use the

hieroglyphics key

given to draw your

first name.

• Use your journals to

sketch your Scarab

Beetle.