Artwork
Userhat and Wife Visit Abydos, Tomb of Userhat
Userhat and Wife Visit Abydos, Tomb of Userhat is an unspecified painting by Norman de Garis Davies. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work depicts a procession of Egyptian figures rendered in vivid hues, arranged in a linear composition.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a procession of Egyptian figures rendered in vivid hues, arranged in a linear composition. Two vessels glide along a river, each bearing individuals bearing offerings, while a band of hieroglyphic symbols crowns the scene and a barren landscape extends beneath.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau illustrates a ritual visit to the tomb of Userhat and his wife at Abydos, a sacred funerary site. The presence of offerings and the formalized postures reflect ancient Egyptian beliefs in honoring the deceased and ensuring safe passage to the afterlife.
Technique & Style
Figures are portrayed with a flattened, two‑dimensional quality, their outlines sharp and colors saturated, echoing the conventions of Egyptian wall painting. Attire—striped kilts, distinctive headdresses, and ornamental jewelry—follows canonical iconography rather than naturalistic observation.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to the early twentieth‑century Egyptologist Norman de Garis Davies, who documented and reproduced Egyptian tomb scenes. His work translates archaeological records into visual form, preserving the original composition for scholarly study.
Artist & collection
Artist
Norman de Garis Davies painted delicate scenes straight from ancient Egyptian tomb walls.
Fragment of an Inscribed Architrave, Tomb of Amenemhat Surer
Menna's Daughter Offering to her Parents, Tomb of Menna
Boats with Mourners and Provisions, Tomb of Neferhotep
Painted Restoration of the Hathor-Head Frieze in the Tomb of Senenmut
Nakhtamun's Funeral Procession, Tomb of Nakhtamun
Gifts from Western Asia, Tomb of Rekhmire
Fragment of an Inscribed Architrave, Tomb of Amenemhat Surer