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Wall painting in the tomb of Tjenuna

Visiting the tomb of king Thutmose IV’s personal steward, Tjenuna, Betsy is studying the painting techniques seen on the murals. Here, unfortunately rather destroyed, is a scene of the ruler seated in a kiosk. The detail shows that the painters used small appliqués of plaster to render the wig in relief, imitating sculpted stone.

Wall painting in the tomb of Tjenuna    Wall painting in the tomb of Tjenuna
Wall painting in the tomb of Tjenuna

Less finished than the king on his dais were the gifts presented to him by the tomb owner (whose figure was erased everywhere in the tomb by unknown enemies). Gold necklaces, vessels, mirrors, etc. are stacked as if we opened the king's personal treasury and peeked in. Note that the white background and gold objects painted on are surrounded by bare plaster as yet untouched by the artists.

Wall painting in the tomb of Tjenuna

On a partially finished wall in Tjenuna’s tomb, this detail of a herdsman reminds us of the Egyptian painters’ artistry. Despite his working on an unfinished surface, where the background paint did not extend as far right as it should have, the painter carefully brushed in the tail of the cow, using a fine bristle and an orange pigment. Note too the shape of the herder’s own hair, unkempt and flying up in the back – maybe he’s as much in need of conditioner as we are.

Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se    Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se
Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se

In the tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se, one long wall was planned to show workshop and agricultural activities under the priest’s supervision. A large (now mutilated) figure of Amenhotep si-se was painted on a grid, while the small figures busy at their crafts were sketched and painted free hand. One detail shows a man handling the bow drill to drill stone beads; the other shows wood sculptors making the elements of an openwork sarcophagus, planing the wood with adzes.

Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se    Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se

Opposite the workshop scenes is a presentation before Thutmose IV of statues and temple furniture. The painters begin with a layer of white atop the plaster (upper left) and then coat this with a light yellow pigment (ochre or orpiment) to create a golden hue. To finish they layered again with a brownish wash, but here the painters stopped their work. The detail shows that the statues of the king in the upper row were actually proportioned on their own grid, but the others were all drawn without this technical aid. In this instance, perhaps the statue's painting was assigned to an apprentice, while a confident line artist worked next to him.

Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se    Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se
Wall painting in tomb of the Second Priest of Amun, Amenhotep si-se

At the other end of this room in Amenhotep si-se’s tomb chapel, the priest’s wife Roy and her daughters, all priestesses of Amun-Re of Karnak, greet priests (not visible) in procession toward the temple. The painters have placed the mother and her daughters on two separate grids, and they painted elaborate wigs that identify the rear figure as perhaps older than her sister. The middle lady’s side lock of youth has been carefully painted black and overlain with white pigment to suggest by a gray color (were it finished) the thinness of the cornrowed plaits, hanging against an otherwise bare head.

A view from the tombs

A view from tombs 75 and 76 (Amenhotep si se and Tjenuna) high atop the hill of Sheikh abd el Qurna. In the background is the great funerary temple of Ramesses II, the Ramesseum, and to its right the nearly destroyed remains of Thutmose IV’s own temple. These tombs were sited toward his complex, but the work of Ramesses later interfered with the view.

Betsy studies the wall paintings

Studying the painting in the tomb of Amenhotep si se, I’m looking for grids, undersketches, paint layer lines and general indications of techniques. The tablet computer is a wonderful way to record here, and what can I say about the magnifier on my head? I offered Jay a bribe not to show the nerd-image, but his price is going up all the time.


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