Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Senwosret I

ca. 1919–1875 B.C.E.

1 of 3

Object Label

Most Egyptian reliefs decorating ancient temple walls were brightly painted. Limestone was too porous to allow for an even application of color, so artists usually covered a wall with plaster, smoothed the surface, and painted directly on the dried plaster. Over time, the painted plaster layer separated from the limestone and fell from the wall, so very little original coloration survives. Through the accidents of preservation, this fragment of the king’s face retains most of its ancient paint.

Caption

Senwosret I, ca. 1919–1875 B.C.E.. Limestone, pigment, 6 9/16 x 19 11/16 in. (16.7 x 50 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 52.130.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Title

Senwosret I

Date

ca. 1919–1875 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 12

Period

Middle Kingdom

Geography

Place excavated: Lisht, Egypt

Medium

Limestone, pigment

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

6 9/16 x 19 11/16 in. (16.7 x 50 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

52.130.1

Frequent Art Questions

  • Is this the original pigment of the object? Or was the color restored?

    That's the original pigment. A layer plaster helps it adhere to the stone. The ancient Egyptians used mostly minerals and metals to create pigments which, luckily, means that the colors are less likely to fade.
    So cool! Thanks

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bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.