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Artist's Sketches of Senenmut, Sketch of Small Rodent on Opposite Side

New Kingdom
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 116
Ostraca are chips of limestone or fragments of pottery that were used as writing surfaces by ancient Egyptian scribes, or as sketch pads by artists. Despite the lack of any identifying text, the double profile on this ostracon can easily be identified as Senenmut, one of Hatshepsut's well-known courtiers. The profiles are similar to the representation of Senenmut on another ostracon in the Museum's collection (36.3.252) and to a drawing on a wall in his tomb (fig. 1). On the back of this ostracon is a sketch that depicts a small rodent.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Artist's Sketches of Senenmut, Sketch of Small Rodent on Opposite Side
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: Joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes
  • Medium: Limestone, ink
  • Dimensions: H. 10 cm (3 15/16 in.); W. 16.5 cm (6 11/16 in.); Th. 3 cm (1 3/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, 1931
  • Object Number: 31.4.2
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 3385. Artist's Sketches of Senenmut

3385. Artist's Sketches of Senenmut

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Artist's Gridded Sketch of Senenmut, Limestone, ink
Artist's Gridded Sketch of Senenmut
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.
Ostracon with Pharaoh Spearing a Lion and a Royal Hymn on its Back, Limestone, ink
Ostracon with Pharaoh Spearing a Lion and a Royal Hymn on its Back
ca. 1186–1070 B.C.
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Shabti box and shabtis of members of the Sennedjem family
ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
Votive stela of Userhat, Limestone, paint
Votive stela of Userhat
1327–1295 BC
Head from an Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut, Limestone, paint
Head from an Osiride Statue of Hatshepsut
ca. 1479–1458 B.C.

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