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<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)
Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)
<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegB_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegB_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_erg2.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_erg2.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_negA.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_negA.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_back_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_back_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH2_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH2_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegE_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegE_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH3_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH3_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH4_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH4_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH1_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegH1_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegF_print_bw.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.178_NegF_print_bw.jpg)

<em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_bodyparts.jpg)

Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.68.178_bodyparts.jpg)

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Royal Torso

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

The nemes-headdress, remains of which are visible on the back and shoulders of this torso, was worn exclusively by Egyptian kings. The slight bend at the elbow suggests that the figure may have been sitting.

This sculpture is an example of the great diversity of body types in Egyptian art, which challenges the assumption of an unchanging canon. The broad upper torso, extremely narrow waist, and deep median line of this fragment are features specific to sculptures from the end of the Middle Kingdom. The high polish points to possible reuse of the statue in the Late Period. However, since neither the head nor the inscription survive, the precise identification of the king represented is impossible.
MEDIUM Granite
  • Place Made: Egypt
    • DATES 1759–1539 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY late Dynasty 12
    PERIOD Middle Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 68.178
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Black granite torso of a king preserved from neck to waist, with grooved lappet of Nemes in front and remains of pigtail ending level with lower portion of shoulder blades in rear. Part of belt in front; in back belt and upper part of grooved kilt preserved. Collar bones and thorax strongly indicated; deep median line curving to left; nipples; stylized muscles on upper arm. The right forearm extended forwards and downwards. Condition: Chips and small breaks in numerous places. Upper right arm mostly preserved; upper left arm only half preserved. Pigtail nearly chipped off.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Royal Torso, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE front, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
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    <em>Royal Torso</em>, 1759–1539 B.C.E. Granite, 20 1/2 x 20 1/2 x 9 13/16 in. (52 x 52 x 25 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 68.178. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 68.178_front_acetate_bw_SL1.jpg)

    TAGS

    Egyptian
    royal
    torso
    granite
    headless
    brosif
    Egyptian torso
    egypt
    king
    headdress
    nemes
    Middle Kingdom
    Late Period
    Thirteenth Dynasty

    TAGS

    Egyptian
    royal
    torso
    granite
    headless
    brosif
    Egyptian torso
    egypt
    king
    headdress
    nemes
    Middle Kingdom
    Late Period
    Thirteenth Dynasty

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