An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Head of Amenhotep III Wearing the Blue Crownc. 1391–1353 BCE
During the long, peaceful reign of Amenhotep III, Egypt reached a pinnacle of wealth and splendor. This magnificent portrait captures the ruler's exotic features to perfection. He has large, almond-shaped eyes, elegant arched eyebrows, and a full mouth. His face is youthful and without blemish. The bone structure is lost in the fleshy fullness of the face. The contrast between polished and roughened surfaces is a hallmark of hard stone images of Amenhotep III. The flesh areas were smoothed to a glistening sheen, while the eyeballs and the crown were left rougher. The roughening of the crown also had a practical purpose, for the upper portion was originally painted blue and the browband was painted yellow. The paint would have adhered better to the unpolished surface.
The Blue Crown or <em>Khepresh </em>was worn by New Kingdom Pharaohs into battle as well as in ceremonies.
granodiorite
Overall: 39.1 x 30.3 x 27.7 cm (15 3/8 x 11 15/16 x 10 7/8 in.)
Gift of the Hanna Fund
In the golden age of ancient Egypt, under the gentle reign of Amenhotep III, the land thrummed with a symphony of prosperity and splendor. It was a time when the rivers whispered secrets of wealth and the sands shimmered with the echoes of history. Amidst this backdrop, a portrait was born, elegantly capturing the essence of a ruler whose very presence seemed to command the heavens themselves.
As one gazes upon this magnificent image, the exotic features of Amenhotep III come to life. His large, almond-shaped eyes, akin to pools of polished obsidian, reflect the wisdom of ages and the light of a thousand stars. Above them, his elegantly arched eyebrows frame a face that carries the grace of youth—flawless and untouched by time’s hand. The contours of his visage are plush, almost indulgent, the fleshy fullness somehow both inviting and regal.
The artistry of the sculpture speaks volumes, revealing a dance between smooth and textured surfaces that define the king. Areas of flesh shimmer with a glistening sheen, capturing the warm glow of sunlight that bathes the Nile. In contrast, the eyeballs and the crown bear the marks of a different skill; their roughened surfaces tell a practical story—one of craft, not merely decoration. The crown, which originally gleamed blue, and the browband, painted a striking yellow, required a coarse texture for the colors to embrace the stone, ensuring their vibrance would endure through the ages.
Thus, in this serene portrayal, we connect with a moment frozen in time—an invitation to ponder the elegance of Amenhotep III and the artistry that aligned with the very heartbeat of a civilization at its peak. The spirit of his reign blazes through, a reminder that even amidst the thrumming chaos of life, beauty and harmony can flourish and inspire.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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