Egyptian Sculptures [antikvár]

T I o appreciate the sculpture of Ancient Egypt it is essen- M tial to have some knowledge of its cultural setting, for very little sculpture was ever made in Egypt which did not have a specific function quite independent of art. In fact, it is probably true to say that the artistic element we distinguish today in so much work by Egyptian sculptors is something which would hardly have been understood by the ancient craftsmen who produced the work. The anonymous artists who spent their lives making statues for tombs, or votive statues for temples, regarded themselves as craftsmen; they made pieces of tomb or temple equipment that were considered essential for the welfare of the individual in death as in life. Very few of the statues which are now regarded as the finest achievements of Egyptian art were ever intended to be seen by mortal man, and it says much for the integrity of the ancient craftsman that he was yet prepared to lavish so much skill and true artistry on work which would, for all he knew, be hidden from sight for ever. In this short essay only a few broad generalizations on Egyptian sculpture can be discussed, and some limitation must also be put on the scope of the subject-matter. In some ways the most characteristic type of Egyptian sculpture is the colossal statue, and for many people the colossal is Egyptian sculpture. The colossal statue, however, is a very special product of Ancient Egypt, and represents only certain characteristics of the artistic medium as a whole. Most colossal statues are of royal persons, and in general they were made to fit into architectural settings where their grandiose proportions