Artwork
Pounding Meal, Tomb of Rekhmire
Pounding Meal, 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 by Egyptologist and illustrator Nina M.
About this work
Overview
Davies created this work as part of a larger effort in early twentieth-century Egypt to meticulously record and copy fragile tomb paintings.
This painting by Egyptologist and illustrator Nina M. Davies documents a scene from the ancient Egyptian Tomb of Rekhmire, dating to approximately 1504 BCE. It captures a moment of daily life, specifically a man engaged in the labor of preparing food by pounding meal. Davies created this work as part of a larger effort in early twentieth-century Egypt to meticulously record and copy fragile tomb paintings. The artwork is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork portrays a solitary figure, likely a man, actively engaged in food preparation. He holds a tall wooden implement, suggesting the process of grinding or pounding grain. Beside him, two baskets are visible: one filled with a pile of bread, the other containing what appears to be raw grain. This depiction of a fundamental domestic or ritualistic activity offers insight into the daily sustenance or ceremonial practices of ancient Egypt, as preserved in the original tomb decoration.
Technique & Style
Nina M. Davies's rendition faithfully translates the distinctive aesthetic of ancient Egyptian tomb painting. The style is characterized by its flatness and symbolic representation rather than naturalistic detail. Figures are rendered without deep perspective, and the background incorporates simple forms, such as a bird and hieroglyph-like symbols, which contribute to the narrative and decorative elements. This approach emphasizes clarity and iconographic meaning, typical of the original artistic conventions Davies sought to preserve.
History & Provenance
This painting is a product of the extensive fieldwork undertaken by Nina M. Davies and her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, in early twentieth-century Egypt. Their collaborative efforts focused on the meticulous documentation and replication of ancient tomb paintings, which were often deteriorating. These copies served as invaluable records of threatened cultural heritage. Pounding Meal, Tomb of Rekhmire eventually entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it continues to offer a window into ancient Egyptian life and early archaeological illustration practices.
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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