Synopses & Reviews
The cultural icons of Pharaonic Egypt, from theand#160;Great Sphinx at Giza to the famous burial of Tutankhamun, are among the world's most renowned works of art. Less well known, but equally impressive, are the rare and ancient images of people, animals, and landscapes made by the Egyptians who lived prior to the age of the pharaohs, when the formal conventions of Egyptian art had not yet fully evolved. With illustrations of more than 180and#160;objects created from about 4000 to 2650 BC, Dawn of Egyptian Art presents the art forms and iconography in which the early Egyptians recorded their beliefs about the land where they lived, the yearly events that took place there, and what they thought was important to the eternal survival of their world. Comprehensive texts explore the origins and early development of the culture of ancient Egypt while discussing the relationship between image and writing as well as the representation of the self and the universe.
Review
andquot;One of the most impressive publications on the early Egyptian art I have seen. Beautifully illustrated with over 180 photographs of objects from exhibition and with an eye-catching coverandhellip; [Dawn of Egyptian Art] looks and feels like a 'coffee table' book but the text is both readable and highly informative.andquot;andmdash;Victor Blunden, Ancient Egypt
Review
andldquo;Through essays contributed by curators, conservators, professors, archeologists, and scholars, and with illustrations of the exhibitionandrsquo;s lovely objects, Patch has assembled a rich catalogandhellip;with lavish illustrations, accessible text, and useful notes, this catalog is appropriate for interested general readers and scholars.andrdquo;andmdash;
Library JournalSynopsis
Egyptian art from the Pharaonic era is characterized by colossal sphinxes, elaborately decorated coffins, hieroglyphs, and beautifully modeled reliefs. Less well-known, but equally impressive, are the rare and ancient images of people, animals, and landscapes from the pre-Pharaonic era, the period that preceded and directly influenced these iconic forms of artistic expression. With lavish illustrations of more than 170 fascinating objects created from about 4000 to 2650 BC, Dawn of Egyptian Art presents the origins of these art forms and iconography that remained in use for centuries. Comprehensive texts explore the origins and early development of the culture of ancient Egypt while discussing the representation of the self and the universe, the relationship between image and writing, and the early Egyptians' evolving view of how the world worked.
About the Author
Diana Craig Patch is Associate Curator in the Department of Egyptian Art,and#160;The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.