Scribe and Official
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
Scenes of daily life, many of which may actually have had religious significance, were a basic element of private-tomb decoration until the first part of Dynasty XVIII. Their renewed popularity in tombs of Dynasties XXV and XXVI reflects that era's penchant for the past. It is uncertain whether the unusual frontal depiction of the scribe shown here is an archaism or an innovation of the relief's own time.
MEDIUM
Limestone, pigment (Egyptian blue, indigo)
DATES
ca. 670–650 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
late Dynasty 25 to early Dynasty 26
PERIOD
Late Third Intermediate Period to early Late Period
DIMENSIONS
7 1/4 × 1 1/2 × 10 1/2 in., 5.5 lb. (18.4 × 3.8 × 26.7 cm, 2.49kg)
mount (m2 (on board)): 9 3/4 × 13 × 2 3/4 in. (24.8 × 33 × 7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
49.18
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Fragment of limestone tomb relief. At left in raised relief, incomplete figure of seated man. In center, squatting scribe, body entirely frontal, facing left, holding in front of him a long palette. At right, large unidentified object (a misunderstood scribe's box?). Inscriptions in raised relief; left 'Steward of the land of Lower Egypt'; center, 'Scribe of the gang of Lower Egypt?' Register division at top and bottom. Companion piece of 48.74 and 49.17. Remains of color on body of scribe and on hieroglyphs.
Condition: Poor. Lower left area missing. Entire stone cracked and split along many fissures.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Egyptian. Scribe and Official, ca. 670–650 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment (Egyptian blue, indigo), 7 1/4 × 1 1/2 × 10 1/2 in., 5.5 lb. (18.4 × 3.8 × 26.7 cm, 2.49kg). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 49.18. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 49.18_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 49.18_PS9.jpg., 2019
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