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ATH 425 ART HISTORY

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THE PALETTE OF KING NARMER

DATE
SIZE
TYPE
MATERIAL
PERIOD

3100 3000 BC
25 HIGH
RELIEF SCULPTURE
STONE (SLATE)
EGYPTIAN ART
(PRE DYNASTIC ERA)

FOUND AT HIERAKONPOLIS

The palette of King Narmer is an elaborate,

formalized version of a utilitarian object.
Egyptians prepared eye makeup on such tablets
for protecting their eyes against irritation and the
suns glare.
The palette is important as a document marking
the transition from pre-historical to the historical
period in ancient Egypt
Early blueprint of the formula for figure
representation that characterized Egyptian art for
three thousand years.
On the front view of the palette, the king, wearing
the high, white, bowling-pin-shaped crown of
upper Egypt and accompanied by an official who
carries his sandals, is shown slaying an enemy.
A falcon with human arms at the top right of
Narmers palette is the symbol of Horus, the king
protector.
Symbol of unification of Lower and Upper Egypt

STEPPED PYRAMID OF KING

ZOSER
ARCHITECT
DATE
SIZE
MATERIAL
LOCATION
PERIOD

IMHOTEP
2630-2611BC
BASE 1800X900
HEIGHT 35
SANDSTONE
SAQQARA
EYGPTIAN ART
(OLD KINGDOM)

THE FIRST PYRAMID one of the most

renowned figures in Egyptian history is
IMHOTEP, the royal builder for King
Zoser of the Third Dynasty.
Imhotep was a man of legendary
powers who served as the Paraohs
chancellor and high priest of the sun
god Re, as well as architect.
He is the first known artist of recorded
history.
Imhotep designed the Stepped
Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, the
ancient necropolis (Greek for city of
the dead) for Memphis, the capital city
Menes founded.
Built before 2600 B.C, the pyramid is
one of the oldest stone structure in
Egypt and the first monumental royal
tomb.

HALL OF BULLS
DATE
LOCATION
TYPE
PERIOD

15000-10000BC
LASCAUX,
FRANCE
WALL PAINTING
PREHISTORY
(PALEOLITHIC)

Mixed species grouping- bulls,

horses and deer.
No indication of space and
perspective
Big size hunting animal
Usage of bold outlinescharateristics of paleolithic styles
Shown in a naturalistic
representation
Magico-religious purpose such as
to attract animal to the cave

HEAD OF AKKADIAN RULER

TYPE
DATE
SIZE
MATERIAL

PERIOD

SCULPTURE
2250-2200BC
1 2
BRONZE
(HOLLOW
CASTING)
MESOPOTAMIA
(AKKADIAN)

FOUND AT NINEVEH

A magnificent copper head of an

Akkadian king found at Nineveh
embodies this new concept of
absolute monarchy.
The harm the head suffered was
due to its status as a political
artwork.
Vandals gouged out the eyes,
once inlaid with precious or
semiprecious stones.
They also broke off the lower part
of the beard and mutilated the
ears.
Nonetheless, the king's majestic
serenity, dignity, and authority are
evident.

LA PARISIENNE
DATE
TYPE
PERIOD
SIZE
LOCATION

1450-1400BC
WET FRESCO
AEGEAN ART
(MINOAN)
10 HIGH
KNOSSOS

From a ceremonial scene of

uncertain significance comes the
famous fragment called La
Parisienne (The Parisian Woman)

Elegant dress, highly structured,

and full rouged lips of the young
woman (perhaps a priestess or
even a goddess) depicted in the
fresco.
Oversized frontal eye like the
Egyptian
Unlike the Egyptians, who painted
in fresco secco (dry fresco), the
Minoans used a true (wet) fresco
method which required rapid
execution and great skill in
achieving quick, almost
impressionistic effects.
The simple, light delicacy of the
technique exactly matches the
energy of the subject.