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Statue of Queen Ankhnes-meryre II and Her Son, Pepy II

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
Pepy II became king as a small child, so his mother acted as regent. This statue conveys her role, evoking the typical Egyptian pose of a mother nursing a child. Pepy is shown as a miniature king rather than a child and, instead of nursing him, the queen holds him protectively as he clasps her hand. Each figure looks straight ahead and has its own inscription, as if it were a separate statue.
MEDIUM Egyptian alabaster (calcite)
  • Possible Place Collected: Upper Egypt, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 2288-2224 or 2194 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 6
    PERIOD Old Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 15 7/16 x 9 13/16 in. (39.2 x 24.9 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 39.119
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not yet documented; before 1880, possibly purchased near Akhmim by Elie or Michel Abemayor of Cairo, Egypt; before 1890, reportedly purchased from Elie or Michel Abemayor by Jacques Matossian of Alexandria, Egypt; by 1939, acquired by Marguerite and Paul Mallon of Paris, France and New York, NY; 1939, purchased from Marguerite and Paul Mallon by the Brooklyn Museum.
    Provenance FAQ
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Seated alabaster statue of Queen Cnh-n.s’-Mry-rc holding in her lap a small figure of King Nfr-k3-rc (Pepy II) on simple block throne; inscription in one column and one row at Queen’s feet, one column at King’s feet. Condition: Practically perfect. Very slight chips, apparently recent, along right edge of inscription at Queen’s feet; left arm of Queen apparently broken off in antiquity and reassembled, considerably weathered, large fragment missing from arm to wrist. Opening in the forehead of Queen presumably for head of the Vulture headdress which is missing. Various brown deposits on back of throne and organic deposits in the hieroglyphs and in details of bodies. Crack runs almost midway through the headdress and face of Queen probably a natural cleavage in the stone. Two drill marks behind Queen’s feet.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Statue of Queen Ankhnes-meryre II and Her Son, Pepy II, ca. 2288-2224 or 2194 B.C.E. Egyptian alabaster (calcite), 15 7/16 x 9 13/16 in. (39.2 x 24.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 39.119. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 39.119_front_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 39.119_front_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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