Who painted Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire?

Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire was painted by Nina M. Davies in 1490.

Where can I see Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire?

Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Artwork

Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire

Provisions Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The wall painting from the tomb of the 18th‑dynasty official Rekhmire, dated to the mid‑15th century BCE, portrays a meticulously arranged store of provisions.

The wall painting from the tomb of the 18th‑dynasty official Rekhmire, dated to the mid‑15th century BCE, portrays a meticulously arranged store of provisions. Baskets, jars, mats and large storage jars are depicted in orderly rows, their earthy pigments punctuated by touches of blue and green. The scene illustrates a pantry‑like space, emphasizing the importance of sustenance in the funerary context.

Subject & Meaning

The composition records the inventory of foodstuffs and household goods that the deceased would require in the afterlife. By presenting these items in a tidy, abundant arrangement, the artwork conveys both the wealth of the tomb owner and the Egyptian belief that material provisions could be transferred to the next world, ensuring continued well‑being beyond death.

Technique & Style

Executed as a painted relief, the scene combines low relief carving with mineral pigments applied in flat, opaque washes. The figures are rendered with a restrained linearity, typical of New Kingdom tomb decoration, while the use of hierarchical scaling—larger storage vessels placed prominently—guides the viewer’s eye across the organized layout.

History & Provenance

The image was recorded in the early twentieth century by Egyptologists Nina M. Davies and Norman de Garis Davies, who produced detailed copies of the tomb’s wall art during their fieldwork in Thebes. Their documentation preserved the visual information of the relief, which remains in situ within Rekhmire’s tomb, while the copies have been disseminated in scholarly publications.

Artist & collection

Artist

Nina M. Davies

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…

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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