ticketsMember | Make a donation

Facsimile Painting of Geese, Tomb of Nefermaat and Itet

Original: Old Kingdom
ca. 2575–2551 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 103
This facsimile copies a painting from the early Dynasty 4 tomb of Nefermaat and Itet at Meidum, the original of which is now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo (Cairo CG 1742). The geese were once part of a larger scene found on the north wall in the tomb chapel of Itet, the wife of the vizier Nefermaat, and likely the daughter-in-law of King Snefru. As members of the royal family, the pair was granted a large mastaba tomb close to the pyramid of the king and could employ the most sought-after artists of the day to help in its decoration. The geese were depicted below a scene showing men trapping birds in a clap net and offering them to the tomb’s owner. While it is not uncommon to find scenes of fowling in the marshes in Old Kingdom tombs, this example is one of the earliest and is notable for the extraordinary quality of the painting. The artist took great care in rendering the colors and textures of the birds’ feathers and even included serrated bills on the two geese bending to graze.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Facsimile Painting of Geese, Tomb of Nefermaat and Itet
  • Artist: Charles K. Wilkinson [painted 1920-21]
  • Period: Original: Old Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 4
  • Reign: reign of Snefru
  • Date: ca. 2575–2551 B.C.
  • Geography: Original from Egypt, Memphite Region, Meidum, Tomb of Nefermaat and Itet, outer chapel of Itet
  • Medium: Tempera on canvas
  • Dimensions: facsimile: H. 24.5 cm (9 5/8 in.); W. 161.5 cm (63 9/16 in.); scale:1:1; framed: H. 30.5 cm (12 in.); W. 167 cm (65 3/4 in.)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1931
  • Object Number: 31.6.8
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Marjid Shah Chiragh, Shiraz, Iran
Charles K. Wilkinson
1960s
[Shiraz, Teheran]
Charles K. Wilkinson
1960s
Offering Bearers in a Funerary Procession, Tomb of Rekhmire, Charles K. Wilkinson, Tempera on Paper
Offering Bearers in a Funerary Procession, Tomb of Rekhmire
Charles K. Wilkinson
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Rekhmire and Mother Receiving Offerings, Tomb of Rekhmire, Charles K. Wilkinson ca. 1928-1928, Tempera on Paper
Rekhmire and Mother Receiving Offerings, Tomb of Rekhmire
Charles K. Wilkinson
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Facsimile of the paintings on the south wall of the burial crypt in the tomb of Khety
Charles K. Wilkinson
ca. 2051–2000 B.C.

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.