Artwork
Ibex, Tomb of Amenhotep
Ibex, Tomb of Amenhotep is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *Ibex, Tomb of Amenhotep* dates to 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It presents a solitary ibex rendered against a fragmented, blue‑green surface, the figure rendered in bold, simplified forms. The piece exemplifies a blend of ancient Egyptian tomb painting tradition with stylistic cues drawn from Byzantine visual culture.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a dark‑brown ibex, an animal associated with mountainous terrain and occasionally symbolic of vitality in ancient iconography. In this composition the creature stands alone, without surrounding figures or narrative elements, suggesting a focus on the animal’s form rather than a mythological or funerary scene.
Technique & Style
The illustration employs a limited palette, with the ibex’s earthy tones contrasting against a mottled blue‑green ground. Thick, blocky limbs and a curved back give the animal a graphic presence. Portions of the painted surface have deteriorated, revealing areas where the pigment has peeled, which accentuates the work’s antiquated appearance.
History & Provenance
The image is attributed to Nina M. Davies, an Egyptologist and illustrator active in the early‑mid‑20th century, who frequently collaborated with her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, on recording Egyptian tomb art. Their joint efforts were commonly signed as N. de Garis Davies, and this piece reflects their practice of producing faithful copies of ancient wall paintings for scholarly study.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Egyptologists Nina M. Davies (6 January 1881 – 21 April 1965) and Norman de Garis Davies (1865–5 November 1941) were a married couple of illustrators and copyists who worked in the early and mid-twentieth century…
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