Head of a Colossal Statue of Senwosret III
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.This object is not part of The Met collection. It was in the Museum for a special exhibition and has been returned to the lender.
During the mid-Twelfth Dynasty, the face of the pharaoh underwent a startling transformation from that of a youthful, idealized monarch to a mature individual, with soft folds of sagging flesh, prominent bone structure, and protruding eyes, all of which are reflected in this imposing, monumental work. These changes must have resulted from new ideas about kingship, perhaps here manifested as a desire to depict a king who has gained the wisdom to lead Egypt.
During the mid-Twelfth Dynasty, the face of the pharaoh underwent a startling transformation from that of a youthful, idealized monarch to a mature individual, with soft folds of sagging flesh, prominent bone structure, and protruding eyes, all of which are reflected in this imposing, monumental work. These changes must have resulted from new ideas about kingship, perhaps here manifested as a desire to depict a king who has gained the wisdom to lead Egypt.
Artwork Details
- Title: Head of a Colossal Statue of Senwosret III
- Period: Middle Kingdom
- Dynasty: Dynasty 12
- Reign: Senwosret III
- Date: ca. 1878-1840 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt
- Medium: Quartzite
- Dimensions: 17 3/4 × 13 1/2 × 17 in. (45.1 × 34.3 × 43.2 cm)
- Credit Line: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri (Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust) 62-11
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art