Who painted Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I?

Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I was painted by Norman de Garis Davies.

Where can I see Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I?

Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Artwork

Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I

Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I 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

The work titled “Dragging a Statue of Thutmose I” is a painted representation that captures a group of ancient Egyptian laborers engaged in moving a massive stone statue. The composition centers on the collective effort, showing figures pulling ropes and pushing the monument, while the statue itself remains only partially visible, emphasizing the scale of the task.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates a ceremonial or practical relocation of a royal statue, likely associated with the reign of Thutmose I. By focusing on the coordinated labor of the workers, the painting highlights the communal responsibilities and organized workforce that underpinned monumental projects in ancient Egypt, reflecting societal values of duty and reverence for the king.

Technique & Style

Executed with bold outlines and vivid coloration, the painting adopts visual conventions reminiscent of traditional Egyptian art, such as flattened perspective and stylized figures. Detailed rendering of the workers’ attire includes hieroglyphic motifs, and the stone statue bears similar decorative inscriptions, reinforcing the authenticity of the historical visual language.

Context

The piece aligns with the scholarly tradition of documenting Egyptian antiquities, a practice exemplified by artists like Norman de Garis Davies, who recorded tomb scenes and monuments with comparable fidelity. Though the painting itself is a modern creation, it draws upon the aesthetic and methodological approaches of early 20th‑century Egyptologists.