HART 205. Introduction to the History of Art
Lecture
5 (September 11, 1998)
Egypt I
Predynastic and Old Kingdom
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1. less subject to outside influence, virtual long unbroken
continuity, protected by deserts and confined to narrow river
valley
2. obsession with life after death/in art commissioned by King:
--architecture--lasting dweling place for dead
--painting--recreation of life magically in pictures to serve
deceased
--sculpture--a provision of a substitute in stone for his
perisable body.
3. literal minded, keely observant, descriptive, tendency toward
portraiture worked against formalism
4. availability of good stone, allowed for large scale
PREDYNASTIC EGYPT
Tomb Wall Painting, People, boats and animals, from
predynastic tomb at Hierakonpolis, c. 3500-3200 B.C.
Palette of King Narmer from Hierakonpolos, late predynastic,
c. 3100-3000 B.C.
OLD KINGDOM
Architecture
Imhotep, Stepped Pyramid and mortuary precinct of King Zoser,
Saqqara, c. 2675-2625 B.C.
Great Pyramids, Giza (Menkaure, c. 2525-2475, Khafre c.
2575-2525, Khufu, c. 2600-2550); Great Sphinx, Pyramid of
Khafre ; Valley Temple, Pyramid of Khafre
Sculpture
Khafre, Gizeh, c. 2575-2525 B.C.
Menkaure and Khamerernebty, c. 2525-2475 B.C.
Seated Scribe from mastaba tomb, Saqqara, c. 2500-2400
B.C.
Ka-Aper (Sheikh el Beled), from mastaba tomb at Saqqara, c.
2500-2400 B.C.
Hesire, panel from his mastaha tomb, Saqqara, c. 2675-2625
Ti watching a hippopotamus hunt, relief from mastabe tomb of
Ti, Saqqara, c. 2500-2400 B.C.
Painting
Geese, detail of fresco in the mastaba tyomb at Atet at Medum, c.
2600-2550 B.C.