Rahotep and Nofret
Title
Rahotep and Nofret
Date
ca. 2649 - 2609 BC, 4th Dynasty
Artist or Workshop
Unkown
Materials
Painted limestone
Height of the work
Rahotep: 121 cm tall
Nofret: 122 cm tall
Nofret: 122 cm tall
Provenience
Egypt, Meidum, Tomb of Rahotep
Current Location
Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt
Description and Significance
Description:
The statues of Rahotep and Nofret each depict a seated man and woman respectively. Rahotep has reddish brown skin and dark, stylized hair. His eyes are inlaid, and framed with black liner. He has a mustache, which like his hair is dark and neat. He is wearing a white necklace with a heart amulet, and a white kilt. His right arm is cross over his chest, with his right hand balled into a fist and placed over his heart. His left hand is placed on his left leg, similarly curled into a fist. His legs are pressed together in front of the block seat. He lacks any distinctive ankles and his feet are wide and flat. His overall musculature is stylized with only hints of definition. On the back of the seat, behind his head, there are hieroglyphics written in black. Beside him, Nofret is similarly stylized. She too has inlaid eyes surrounded by black liner, block-like ankles, and wide feet. However, she does have a few of her own individualizing features. Her skin is much paler than Rahotep’s. She is wearing a large black wig with a center part, though some of her own hair visible underneath. She is also wearing a floral band around her wig and a large collar-like necklace. She is wearing a tight white cloak over a fitted garment with two large straps. Underneath the robe, her arms are crossed, aside from her right hand which extends past the robe’s edge. The robe continues down her legs, stopping just above her feet. Like Rahotep, the back of her block seat is decorated with hieroglyphics.
Significance:
The statues of Rahotep and Nofret depict an elite couple, as indicated by the titles written in hieroglyphics on each statue. Rahotep is called “priest of Ra”, “supervisor of the works”, and “the son of the king”, a sign of high nobility. His dark skin, in addition to being the color traditionally used for men in Egyptian are, indicates that he was seen as hard working and active during his life. Conversely, Nofret does not receive titles or appreciation for work during her lifetime. Instead, her statue is focused on her nobility and beauty. Her hieroglyphics call her “the royal acquaintance”. Her pale skin is a symbol of nobility and beauty in the Ancient Egyptian artistic tradition. Her name even means “the beautiful”. Nofret’s face and body are almost obscured by the beautiful things she is wearing. Her wig, cloak and elaborate necklace become the focus. Her style is typical of Old Kingdom. Similarly, the carving style reflects the traditions of that time. Statues from this period were typically front facing, axial, and emotionless in expression, all of which is evident in these statues. The indistinct ankle and flat feet are also typical of this time. Despite the standardized features, the individualized touches allow us to learn about Rahotep and Nofret and real people.
The statues of Rahotep and Nofret each depict a seated man and woman respectively. Rahotep has reddish brown skin and dark, stylized hair. His eyes are inlaid, and framed with black liner. He has a mustache, which like his hair is dark and neat. He is wearing a white necklace with a heart amulet, and a white kilt. His right arm is cross over his chest, with his right hand balled into a fist and placed over his heart. His left hand is placed on his left leg, similarly curled into a fist. His legs are pressed together in front of the block seat. He lacks any distinctive ankles and his feet are wide and flat. His overall musculature is stylized with only hints of definition. On the back of the seat, behind his head, there are hieroglyphics written in black. Beside him, Nofret is similarly stylized. She too has inlaid eyes surrounded by black liner, block-like ankles, and wide feet. However, she does have a few of her own individualizing features. Her skin is much paler than Rahotep’s. She is wearing a large black wig with a center part, though some of her own hair visible underneath. She is also wearing a floral band around her wig and a large collar-like necklace. She is wearing a tight white cloak over a fitted garment with two large straps. Underneath the robe, her arms are crossed, aside from her right hand which extends past the robe’s edge. The robe continues down her legs, stopping just above her feet. Like Rahotep, the back of her block seat is decorated with hieroglyphics.
Significance:
The statues of Rahotep and Nofret depict an elite couple, as indicated by the titles written in hieroglyphics on each statue. Rahotep is called “priest of Ra”, “supervisor of the works”, and “the son of the king”, a sign of high nobility. His dark skin, in addition to being the color traditionally used for men in Egyptian are, indicates that he was seen as hard working and active during his life. Conversely, Nofret does not receive titles or appreciation for work during her lifetime. Instead, her statue is focused on her nobility and beauty. Her hieroglyphics call her “the royal acquaintance”. Her pale skin is a symbol of nobility and beauty in the Ancient Egyptian artistic tradition. Her name even means “the beautiful”. Nofret’s face and body are almost obscured by the beautiful things she is wearing. Her wig, cloak and elaborate necklace become the focus. Her style is typical of Old Kingdom. Similarly, the carving style reflects the traditions of that time. Statues from this period were typically front facing, axial, and emotionless in expression, all of which is evident in these statues. The indistinct ankle and flat feet are also typical of this time. Despite the standardized features, the individualized touches allow us to learn about Rahotep and Nofret and real people.
References
"Rahotep and His Wife Nofret." Sculpture (Art and Art History Department Images). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2017.
<http://contentdm.unl.edu/cdm/ref/collection/sculpture/id/1314>.
Shahawy, Abeer El, and Mathaf Al Misir. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Cairo: American U in Cairo Press, 2005. Print.
<http://contentdm.unl.edu/cdm/ref/collection/sculpture/id/1314>.
Shahawy, Abeer El, and Mathaf Al Misir. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Cairo: American U in Cairo Press, 2005. Print.
Contributor
Becca Peters
Citation
Unkown , “Rahotep and Nofret,” Digital Portrait "Basket" - ARTH488A "Ancient Mediterranean Portraiture", accessed April 25, 2024, http://classicalchopped.artinterp.org/omeka/items/show/54.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.