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Painting of a Standing King

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

The identity of the king represented as a statue standing in the center of this fragmentary painting cannot be determined, but the colors and the confident drawing suggest a New Kingdom date. The scene was probably part of a wall in a Theban private tomb. Flanking the king are djed-pillars surmounted by human-headed ba birds. The birds may represent the gods Shu and Tefnut, who along with Ptah formed the Memphite triad.

MEDIUM Mud, plaster, pigment
DATES ca. 1539–1070 B.C.E.
DYNASTY Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 20
PERIOD New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS 5 5/16 x 1 5/16 x 4 5/16 in. (13.5 x 3.4 x 11 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 16.208
CREDIT LINE Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Painting of a standing king (?) facing right, flanked by two large Ded columns each surmounted by Horus falcon with large sun disk. White background. Figures in red, yellow and blue. Painted on square brick made of mud and straw. White slip on all surfaces. Use of object not clear. Possibly an inlay. Obviously not a fragment. Condition: Very fragile and dry. All surfaces flaking to some extent. Paint missing from edges of decorated surface. Various minor chips.
CAPTION Painting of a Standing King, ca. 1539–1070 B.C.E. Mud, plaster, pigment, 5 5/16 x 1 5/16 x 4 5/16 in. (13.5 x 3.4 x 11 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.208. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.208_wwg8.jpg)
IMAGE installation, West Wing gallery 8 installation, CUR.16.208_wwg8.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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