1

A HISTORY OF PAINTING
(Egyptian painting)
Egyptian art refers to the canonical 2nd and 3rd Dynasty art developed in Egypt from 3000 BC and used until the 3rd century. But, Egyptian painting should be evaluated taking into account the time when it was executed. There are seven distinct periods of time when painting, and not only that, has used the polychrome and symbolism as an expression of their lifestyle. Predynastic (4210 BC2680 BC) the period between the Early Neolithic and the beginning of the Pharaonic monarchy starting with King Menes. Old Kingdom (2680 BC2258 BC) is the period in the 3rd millennium BCE when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization in complexity and achievement , which marks the high level of civilization in the lower Nile Valley . Middle Kingdom (2258 BC1786 BC) New Kingdom (1786 BC1085 BC) Amarna Period (1085 BC1055 BC) is the period when appears Amarna Art that was a style of art adopted in the Amarna Period (i.e. during and just after the reign of Akhenaten in the late Eighteenth Dynasty), and is noticeably different from more conventional Egyptian art styles. Late Period (1055 BC287 BC) it ran from 664 BC until 323 BC. It is often regarded as the last breath of a great culture. Ptolemaic - from 305 BC to 30 BC. The Ptolemaic dynasty was a Greek royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, Cleopatra VII.

Many ancient Egyptian paintings have survived due to Egypt's extremely dry climate. Much of the surviving art comes from tombs and monuments and thus there is an emphasis on life after death and the preservation of knowledge of the past. These wall-paintings provide in extraordinarily vivid picture of life as it was lived in Egypt thousands of years ago. Techniques: Frontalism - strict rules - most images are showing the prosperity, youth, and good health (infirmities and old age are rarely shown). - the head is always drawn in profile, while the body is seen from the front (it is at right angles to the body also) - the eye ( just one ) is drawn in full - the legs are turned to the same side as the head, and always one foot is placed in front of the other - every figure in paintings, stands or sits with an easily rigid posture, the body is severe, but the faces are calm and serene - color was applied in flat tones (men's skin was colored red while women's was yellow) - their main colors were red, blue, black, gold, and green. - red skin implied vigorous tanned youth; yellow skin was used for women or middle-aged men who worked indoors; blue or gold indicated divinity because of its unnatural appearance and association with precious materials; the use of black for royal figures expressed the fertility of the Nile from which Egypt was born. Stereotypes were employed to indicate the geographical origins of foreigners The combination of regularity and good observation of nature is a characteristic of all Egyptian arts. But , with a typical sober style also. Painting has undergone more or less major changes by traveling through a very turbulent millennial history. From relief painted to mats made in the illusionist manner. From achieving of a purity of line in painting (Meidum, fourth dynasty) through the juxtaposition of rigid images on blue funds (Tutmos III reign). From the strict graphics to softly feminine forms . From a thoroughly search to a smiling vulgarity (Dynasty XIX). From a repertoire almost exclusively religious to a failure into a narrow craft what will disappear. Thats the Egyptian painting.

Funeral feast, Thebes. Nakhts grave, middle of Dynasty XVIII

Female musicians, Thebes. Nakhts grave, middle of Dynasty XVIII

Harvesting, Thebes, Mennas grave, middle of Dynasty XVIII

Sailing, Thebes, Mennas grave, middle of Dynasty XVIII

Picking the grapes, Thebes, Ipukys grave, Dynasty XIX

Balance for gold, Thebes, Rekhmires grave (Tutmos the 3rd reign)

bricklayers, Thebes, Rekhmires grave (Tutmos III period)

carpenters, Thebes, Ipuky and Nebamons grave (end of the Dynasty XVIII )

10

Birds and fishes, details from a scene of hunting and fishing, Thebes, the tomb of Morenheb - the royal scribe (Tutmos IV)

11

Fishes, detail from a hunting and fishing scene, Thebes, Mennas grave (middle of Dynasty XVIII )

12

Hunting birds, detail from a scene of hunting and fishing, Thebes, tomb of Nakht (middle of Dynasty XVIII )

13

Mennas daughter with birds and lotus flowers,Thebes, Mennas grave (middle of Dynasty XVIII )

14

Birds, Thebes, Nakhts grave, middle of Dynasty XVIII

Instead of conclusion : Egyptian painting is a magic of forms. In their view, the portrait is equally true to the model according to the principle based on the practice of spells. As such, making images was put into practice to neutralize the enemies of the kings and of the people . And all is put in the service of a white magic.

Informations: Avatar - header image : Jeff Dahl Source: Wikipedia