Senenmut and Neferure
Title
Senenmut and Neferure
Date
18th Dynasty, ca. 1479 B.C., reign of Hatshepsut
Artist or Workshop
Unknown
Materials
Granodiorite
Height of the work
72.5 cm tall
Provenience
Reputedly from Egypt, Karnak (Thebes), Temple of Amun
Current Location
The British Museum, London, England
Description and Significance
Description:
The portrait “Senenmut and Neferura” depicts a man sitting on a stone block while holding a young girl on his lap. Both figures’ shoulders and hips are aligned and are front facing. The man’s feet, peeking out from the bottom of the robe, are next to each other and sitting against the stone block. They are both wrapped in a robe which obscures many of the details of their bodies giving the sculpture a solid, block-like appearance. Aside from the figures’ heads, Senemut’s hands and feet are the only visible body parts. Even so, his hands seem to melt into the fabric. His ankles and feet, however, follow the Egyptian traditional style. They are thick, block-like and lack a sense of naturalism or definition. The faces of each figure are idealized, so it is only through the incised inscriptions that the man and child have been identified as Senenmut and Neferura respectively. Senenmut is portrayed as a young man, with a smooth, calm face and wearing a headdress. Neferura’s face seems to be rendered in a nearly identical style. However, she also features some of the conventions of Egyptian youth. She has a sidelock, or a long piece of hair on the right side of her head, and she is holding her pointer finger against her mouth. This combined with her size signify that she is a child. The rest of her body is covered by a long robe that Senenmut is holding in his right hand while his left hand holds her securely. There are inscriptions listing Senenmut’s titles and association with the Pharaoh incised in hieroglyphics down the front of his robe, as well as along either side of the block next to his legs. The statue is polished giving it a generally smooth texture. However, the block on which the figures are sitting is slightly broken along both the front edge and top right corner.
Significance:
This portrait of Senenmut and Neferura depicts two important figures in Egypt’s history, both closely associated with famed Pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Senenmut was one of the highest-ranking officials during her reign, as well as the architect of her elaborate funerary temple. Neferura was her daughter. It appears that this statue is meant to emphasize the older male figure’s political position. The frontal, seated pose and overall style mimics portraits of earlier Pharaohs. Senenmut’s size alongside the fact that Neferura seems to melt into the robe makes Senenmut the clear focal point. Some scholars suggest that this pose is meant to show Senenmut as being protective over Neferura. Others suggest that the post is simply meant to emphasize his claim to political power. The incised inscriptions further emphasize Senenmut’s political position, naming him as the Chief Steward of Neferura. Another inscription states that this statue was commissioned by Hatshepsut herself, further linking the two. Interestingly, in this inscription, Hatshepsut is referred to as “The God’s Wife”. This suggests that the statue was commissioned before Hatshepsut named herself Pharaoh rather than co-regent of her step-son. Twenty years after Hatshepsut’s death, her step-son defaced her statues and removed any record of her from the Kingdom. However, her name remains intact on this statue. It has been suggested that this statue was buried in a cache before the period of destruction. The supposed cache from which this statue is said to have been found has been debated, however. Nonetheless, the subjects themselves, as well as the rare level of preservation of Hatshepsut’s name, makes this a fascinating example of Egyptian art.
The portrait “Senenmut and Neferura” depicts a man sitting on a stone block while holding a young girl on his lap. Both figures’ shoulders and hips are aligned and are front facing. The man’s feet, peeking out from the bottom of the robe, are next to each other and sitting against the stone block. They are both wrapped in a robe which obscures many of the details of their bodies giving the sculpture a solid, block-like appearance. Aside from the figures’ heads, Senemut’s hands and feet are the only visible body parts. Even so, his hands seem to melt into the fabric. His ankles and feet, however, follow the Egyptian traditional style. They are thick, block-like and lack a sense of naturalism or definition. The faces of each figure are idealized, so it is only through the incised inscriptions that the man and child have been identified as Senenmut and Neferura respectively. Senenmut is portrayed as a young man, with a smooth, calm face and wearing a headdress. Neferura’s face seems to be rendered in a nearly identical style. However, she also features some of the conventions of Egyptian youth. She has a sidelock, or a long piece of hair on the right side of her head, and she is holding her pointer finger against her mouth. This combined with her size signify that she is a child. The rest of her body is covered by a long robe that Senenmut is holding in his right hand while his left hand holds her securely. There are inscriptions listing Senenmut’s titles and association with the Pharaoh incised in hieroglyphics down the front of his robe, as well as along either side of the block next to his legs. The statue is polished giving it a generally smooth texture. However, the block on which the figures are sitting is slightly broken along both the front edge and top right corner.
Significance:
This portrait of Senenmut and Neferura depicts two important figures in Egypt’s history, both closely associated with famed Pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Senenmut was one of the highest-ranking officials during her reign, as well as the architect of her elaborate funerary temple. Neferura was her daughter. It appears that this statue is meant to emphasize the older male figure’s political position. The frontal, seated pose and overall style mimics portraits of earlier Pharaohs. Senenmut’s size alongside the fact that Neferura seems to melt into the robe makes Senenmut the clear focal point. Some scholars suggest that this pose is meant to show Senenmut as being protective over Neferura. Others suggest that the post is simply meant to emphasize his claim to political power. The incised inscriptions further emphasize Senenmut’s political position, naming him as the Chief Steward of Neferura. Another inscription states that this statue was commissioned by Hatshepsut herself, further linking the two. Interestingly, in this inscription, Hatshepsut is referred to as “The God’s Wife”. This suggests that the statue was commissioned before Hatshepsut named herself Pharaoh rather than co-regent of her step-son. Twenty years after Hatshepsut’s death, her step-son defaced her statues and removed any record of her from the Kingdom. However, her name remains intact on this statue. It has been suggested that this statue was buried in a cache before the period of destruction. The supposed cache from which this statue is said to have been found has been debated, however. Nonetheless, the subjects themselves, as well as the rare level of preservation of Hatshepsut’s name, makes this a fascinating example of Egyptian art.
References
"Image gallery: statue." British Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?partid=1&assetid=30431001&objectid=119654>.
Smith, William Stevenson. The art and architecture of ancient Egypt. New Haven: Yale U Press, 1999. 126-127. Print.
Smith, William Stevenson. The art and architecture of ancient Egypt. New Haven: Yale U Press, 1999. 126-127. Print.
Contributor
Becca Peters
Citation
Unknown, “Senenmut and Neferure,” Digital Portrait "Basket" - ARTH488A "Ancient Mediterranean Portraiture", accessed November 18, 2024, http://classicalchopped.artinterp.org/omeka/items/show/13.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.