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Amunhotep III

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
The dynamics of permanence and change in Egyptian art are well reflected in this statuette of Amunhotep III. The form of the striding male figure dates back to as early as the Third Dynasty (circa 2675– 2625 B.C.E.). The Blue Crown did not appear until right before the Eighteenth Dynasty (circa 1539 B.C.E.), more than one thousand years later. The style was completely new: unlike most Egyptian kings, Amunhotep III allowed himself to be portrayed as an aging man with a noticeable paunch and sagging jowls.
MEDIUM Wood, gold leaf, glass, pigment
  • Possible Place Collected: Thebes, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1390–1352 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 18
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS Total height: 10 3/8 in. (26.3 cm) Base: 6 5/16 x 1 1/16 x 2 3/8 in. (16 x 2.7 x 6 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 48.28
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Standing wooden statuette of Amenhotep III on inscribed wooden base. Conventional composition with left leg advanced, arms missing possibly originally pendant by sides. "Blue Crown," a separate piece, with uraeus body coiled in front, square opening for uraeus head now missing and certainly of metal. Eyebrows and outlines of eyes in purple-blue glass, eyes in white and black glass. Nipples made separately. Long gold leaf kilt with wide border at top with incised lozenge design; pleats of kilt incised and filled with brown substance; front of kilt folded in triangular form with incised bead design, on each side two tie strings (in raised relief) terminating in lotus buds. Kilt undercut. Small metal loop on back of neck probably for attachment of gold foil ribbons of crown. Face made of separate piece of same wood as body. Base probably of different wood. Inscribed, four sides and top of base; top rear of kilt. Inscription on top rear of kilt. Inscription suggests object was a cult statue made after death of subject. Body shows Amarna influence. Condition: Arms missing. Considerable area of gold lost from right front of kilt. Some of gold of forehead band missing.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor
    CAPTION Amunhotep III, ca. 1390–1352 B.C.E. Wood, gold leaf, glass, pigment, Total height: 10 3/8 in. (26.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.28. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 48.28_front_PS4.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 48.28_front_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2016
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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