Fragmentary Head of a King

Period:
New Kingdom
Dynasty:
Dynasty 18
Reign:
reign of Thutmose IV
Date:
ca. 1400–1390 B.C.
Geography:
Country of Origin Egypt, Upper Egypt; Thebes
Medium:
Jasper
Credit Line:
Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 Rogers Fund, by exchange, 1993 Lent by Musée du Louvre
Accession Number:
26.7.1398a
  • Description

    For many years the Fragments of this face were dispersed in various collections, but in 1993 it became possible to reunite the pieces through an exchange with the Petrie Museum, London (the cheek, 1993.27a, b), and a long-term loan from the Musée du Louvre, Paris (the eye, L.1993.21a, b). Part of a red jasper thumb in the collection (26.7.1398b) probably belonged to the same statue.
    The original statue was probably what we call a "composite statue" in which the face and other areas of exposed flesh (the hands and feet) were carved from jasper and rest of the statue was carved from Egyptian alabaster, limestone, or wood. Although such statues most frequently come from the the reign of Akhenaten Amarna period (ca. 1353-1336 B.C.), this work has been dated to the reign of Akhenaten's grandfather, Thutmose IV, on stylistic grounds.

  • Provenance

    Formerly Carnarvon Collection, purchased from Mohammed Mohassib in Luxor before 1923. Carnarvon Collection purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Lady Carnarvon, 1926.

    Ex. Coll.: Earl of Carnarvon

  • See also
    What
    Where
    When
    In the Museum
    Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
100005378:1

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