Collection
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Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Raised Relief of Montuemhat(?)

Egyptian

1 of 3

Object Label

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.

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. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Culture

Egyptian

Title

Raised Relief of Montuemhat(?)

Date

ca. 670–650 B.C.E.

Dynasty

late Dynasty 25 to early Dynasty 26

Period

Late Third Intermediate Period to early Late Period

Geography

Possible place collected: Thebes (El-Assasif), Egypt

Medium

Limestone

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

14 15/16 x 12 in. (38 x 30.5 cm)

Credit Line

Bequest of Mrs. Carl L. Selden

Accession Number

1996.146.3

Frequent Art Questions

  • Why is this ombré? Was it to do with fire of some sort?

    Yes, it's been blackened by smoke, though the date of the fire is unknown.

  • We think this choice to pair fragments together is rather contemporary!

    Elaborate! What makes you say that?
    As in pairing fragments together for aesthetic reasons that don't necessarily belong together in a linear sense is a contemporary move, especially when the early Egyptian works are pretty abstract/stylized anyway. It looks like a diptych or triptych.
    Interesting observation. I'd have to agree with you, the fragments aren't attempting to complete each other. But also the fragmentation of the body and the erasure of narrative is such a contemporary thought as well. The connection between these objects is that they all come from the time of the 26th Dynasty and many of them likely come from the same tomb. It's interesting to apply more contemporary ideas to the antiquities. I tend to think of the Egyptian depiction of the body as sort of proto-cubist, in the way that many sides of the same object are shown simultaneously.

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Artists and makers

Egyptian

178 works in the collection