Who painted Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen?

Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen was painted by Norman de Garis Davies.

Where can I see Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen?

Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Artwork

Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen

Animals Seated under a Chair, Tomb of Anen is an unspecified painting by Norman de Garis Davies. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Animals Seated under a Chair is a reconstructed ancient Egyptian tomb painting featuring a surreal scene of animals interacting with a chair, set against a blue ground with yellow walls.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a tiger-like animal crouched under a chair, a monkey leaping in mid-air with a pole, and a nearby duck. In ancient Egyptian tomb art, animals often carried symbolic meanings, suggesting this scene may convey deeper, though now unclear, significance.

Technique & Style

The work exhibits faded, possibly restored, colors and distinctive striped black and white chair legs. The dreamlike quality is enhanced by the chair’s unusual shape and the animals’ unnatural poses, characteristic of stylized ancient Egyptian art.

History & Provenance

This is a reconstruction of a tomb painting from the tomb of Anen. The original's condition and exact location within the tomb are not specified here, but such reconstructions aim to revive the vibrancy of ancient funerary art.

Context

Ancient Egyptian tomb paintings like this one were integral to funerary rites, often depicting scenes that ensured the deceased's comfort and provision in the afterlife. Animals frequently represented spiritual or practical aspects of life.

Legacy

Reconstructions like Animals Seated under a Chair facilitate modern appreciation of ancient Egyptian art's creativity and symbolism. Similar originals can be found at institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art.