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Scene of Animal Husbandry

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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

The motifs of a herdsman leading a bull through a thicket and a man assisting at the birth of a calf were most common in Egyptian art during the Old and Middle Kingdoms (before 1800 B.C.). It is likely that they were known to the carvers of these two reliefs indirectly through sources such as master pattern books.

CULTURE Egyptian
MEDIUM Limestone, pigment
  • Possible Place Collected: Thebes (El-Assasif), Egypt
  • DATES ca. 670-650 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 25
    PERIOD Third Intermediate Period
    DIMENSIONS 5 9/16 x 7 in. (14.2 x 17.8 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 55.3.2
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Fragment of limestone relief. At left, portion of standing cow giving birth to calf. Male attendant kneels at right drawing forth the calf with rope attached to legs. Plain background. Condition: Poor. Very incomplete. Stone very salty with fragile surface. Several cracks. Scattered remains of red paint on cow and on man's body.
    CAPTION Egyptian. Scene of Animal Husbandry, ca. 670-650 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 5 9/16 x 7 in. (14.2 x 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.3.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.3.2_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 55.3.2_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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