Relief Fragment with Part of an Inscription

Middle Kingdom

ca. 1961–1917 B.C.

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 109

This fragment preserves part of an inscription with a Hr-sign, a commonly used hieroglyph that can belong to a wide variety of words; a small portion of another sign is preserved below. The hieroglyph is one of the few instances in which the ancient Egyptians depicted frontal rather than profile faces in relief. The Hr-sign is finely rendered, with careful attention to the modeling of facial features, including the rounded eyes, sculpted nose, full lips, and large, detailed ear. Hair and beard are painted blue, while the face itself is yellow with black eyebrows, pupils, and outlines around the eyes.

The inscription is rendered in sunk relief, which was traditionally used on exterior decoration, but in the Twelfth Dynasty is also found on interior scenes.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Relief Fragment with Part of an Inscription
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: Dynasty 12
Reign: reign of Senwosret I
Date: ca. 1961–1917 B.C.
Geography: From Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht South, MMA excavations
Medium: Limestone, paint
Dimensions: h. 8.5 cm (3 3/8 in); w. 7 cm (2 3/4 in); d. 2.5 cm (1 in)
Credit Line: Gift of Nanette Rodney Kelekian, 1998
Object Number: 1998.393.1
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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