This marvelous Egyptian black stone head dates
from the Golden Age of the New Kingdom.
Originally, the bust would have been attached to
a larger, complete body; although this has been
lost to us. What does survive, however, is a
gorgeous rendering of an idealized smiling,
youthful man. He wears a wig of long, wavy hair
that indicates his elite status. Such wig wear
made from actual human hair, although less
expensive examples made from sheep or goat
hair also existed. However, considering that this
man (or his family) was wealthy enough to
commission this lovely memorial sculpture, it is
likely that he would have been able to afford a
wig made of human hair. The facial features of
the man are highly stylized, typical of Egyptian
art. His eyes are wide open and he smiles
sweetly, as if greeting the gods in the great
beyond. Such a work originally may have been
entered alongside the deceased in order to
welcome him into the afterlife. It is also possible
that it may have decorated a temple of royal
palace. The New Kingdom was a veritable
Renaissance of Egyptian culture during which
some of the most famous monuments of this
ancient civilization were created. This
magnificent stone bust symbolizes the beauty
and refinement of Egyptian art as a whole.
- (X.0368)
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