Artwork
Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus
Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1400 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nina M.
About this work
Overview
Nina M. Davies, a British Egyptologist and illustrator, created *Osiris and the Four Sons of Horus* in 1925. This painting exemplifies her work in meticulously documenting ancient Egyptian tomb art and inscriptions. It is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, representing a significant effort to preserve and disseminate visual records of historical artifacts.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork portrays the deity Osiris, identifiable by his green skin and regal posture, seated alongside other figures. One figure possesses a jackal's head, while another is a man wearing a distinctive striped headdress, likely representing the Four Sons of Horus. The composition also incorporates hieroglyphic text and symbolic elements, reflecting the religious iconography of ancient Egypt.
Technique & Style
The composition features three figures seated on a bench against a white background, adorned with blue, red, and yellow hieroglyphs and symbols.
Davies rendered this painting in a style that emulates ancient Egyptian artistic conventions. The composition features three figures seated on a bench against a white background, adorned with blue, red, and yellow hieroglyphs and symbols. The meticulous details, such as the jackal-headed figure and the green-skinned deity, reflect the characteristic forms and color palettes found in original tomb paintings.
History & Provenance
Created by Nina M. Davies in 1925, this painting is a product of her extensive career as an Egyptologist and illustrator. She collaborated closely with her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, on projects dedicated to recording and replicating ancient Egyptian tomb paintings and inscriptions. This work was crucial for scholarly study and for making these fragile historical records accessible to a wider audience.
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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