Artwork
Man Carrying Loaves, Tomb of Rekhmire
Man Carrying Loaves, Tomb of Rekhmire is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting, Man Carrying Loaves, is an illustration by Egyptologist Nina M.
About this work
Overview
The artwork, depicting a figure laden with bread, is now held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This painting, Man Carrying Loaves, is an illustration by Egyptologist Nina M. Davies, created as part of her extensive work documenting ancient Egyptian tomb art. It captures a scene from the Tomb of Rekhmire, a significant New Kingdom burial site. Davies' meticulous copies preserve details of daily life and ritual, making them invaluable records. The artwork, depicting a figure laden with bread, is now held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration centers on a male figure, rendered with a characteristic red body and white skirt, balancing a long wooden pole across his shoulder. Beside him, a tall basket overflows with loaves of bread, suggesting his role as a baker or food preparer. Such depictions of daily activities were common in ancient Egyptian tombs, intended to ensure the deceased's sustenance and well-being in the afterlife by magically providing for their needs.
Technique & Style
Davies' illustration faithfully reproduces the distinctive artistic conventions of ancient Egyptian tomb painting. The figure is presented in a flat, stylized manner, prioritizing clarity and symbolic representation over naturalistic depiction. The background features simplified forms, such as boats and architectural elements, rendered in muted tones. This approach emphasizes the essential elements of the scene, reflecting the original artists' focus on conveying information and meaning within a structured visual language.
History & Provenance
Nina M. Davies, a prominent Egyptologist and illustrator, dedicated her career in the early to mid-twentieth century to meticulously copying scenes from ancient Egyptian tombs. Working alongside her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, she produced detailed facsimiles like this one from the Tomb of Rekhmire. These invaluable records, likely created around 1904, served to preserve the fragile original artworks for study and appreciation, eventually entering the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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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Sandal Maker, Tomb of Rekhmire
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Metal Working, Tomb of Rekhmire
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