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Raised Relief of Montuemhat(?)

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

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

As perhaps the most powerful official of his time in southern Egypt, Montuemhat had one of the largest and most lavishly decorated nonroyal tombs known. Although this relief is probably of the man himself, it is not a portrait. Rather, It is an idealizing, archalzing image reflecting the style of Theban works of Dynasty XVIII and possibly also the Middle Kingdom. The fortuitous blackening of the relief's surface is the result of a burning of unknown date.

CULTURE Egyptian
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Possible Place Collected: Thebes (El-Assasif), Egypt
  • 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 14 15/16 x 12 in. (38 x 30.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1996.146.3
    CREDIT LINE Bequest of Mrs. Carl L. Selden
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Raised relief in limestone. Upper half of a figure of a nobleman facing right. The figure wears a plain wig and broad-collar necklace. His far hand is raised to his chest and holds a floral scepter (partially preserved). His near arm is extended forwards and downwards, and his missing near hand held an object (staff?) of which is preserved below the far forearm. Condition: Far elbow missing. Large chips in near forearm and before and behind head. Numerous long cracks, and much of the surface blackened by smoke. Object is set in plaster frame.
    CAPTION Egyptian. Raised Relief of Montuemhat(?), ca. 670–650 B.C.E. Limestone, 14 15/16 x 12 in. (38 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Mrs. Carl L. Selden, 1996.146.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1996.146.3_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1996.146.3_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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