October 25, 2015

Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 12, 2015 – January 24, 2016

“The reunification of ancient Egypt achieved by Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II—the first pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom—was followed by a great cultural flowering that lasted nearly 400 years. During the Middle Kingdom (mid‐Dynasty 11–Dynasty 13, around 2030–1650 B.C.), artistic, cultural, religious, and political traditions first conceived and instituted during the Old Kingdom were revived and reimagined. This transformational era will be represented through 230 powerful and compelling masterworks (individual objects and groups of objects) in the major international exhibition Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom.” — The Metropolitan Museum of Art

7. Statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II-72

Statue of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II Standing in the Jubilee Garment. Sandstone, paint. H. 252.9 cm (99⅝ in.), W. 47.7 cm (18¾ in.), D. 43.7 cm (17¼ in.). Eleventh Dynasty, late reign of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (ca. 2030–2000 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1926 (26.3.29). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

11. Lintel (Detail)-72

Lintel of Amenemhat I and Deities (detail). Limestone, paint. Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat I (ca. 1981–1952 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1908 (08.200.5). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

20. Head of Colossal Statue of Senwosret I Shrouded-72

Head of a Colossal Statue of Senwosret I Shrouded. Sandstone, paint. H. 73 cm (28¾ in.), max. W. 34 cm (13⅜ in.), D. 50 cm (19¾ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret I (ca. 1961–1917 B.C.). Medelhavsmuseet, Stockholm (MME 1972:017). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

22. Head of a Colossal Statue of Senwosret III-72

Head of a Colossal Statue of Senwosret III. Quartzite. H. 45 cm (17¾ in.), W. 34.3 cm (13½ in.), D. 43.2 cm (17 in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret III, perhaps second half (ca. 1878–1840 B.C.). The Nelson‐Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri (Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust) (62‐11). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

24. Statue of Senwosret III as a Sphinx-72

Statue of Senwosret III as a Sphinx. Gneiss. L. 73 cm (28¾ in.), W. 29.5 cm (11⅝ in.), H. 42.5 cm (16¾ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret III (ca. 1878–1840 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1917 (17.9.2). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

27. Head of a Statue of Amenemhat III-72

Head of a Statue of Amenemhat III Wearing the White Crown. Graywacke. H. 47 cm (18½ in.), W. 18.5 cm (7¼ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat III (ca. 1859–1813 B.C.). Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

58. Relief, Tomb of Dagi (detail)-72

Relief with Official or Son of the Vizier Dagi (detail). Limestone, paint. Eleventh Dynasty, late reign of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II to early reign of Nebtawire Mentuhotep IV (ca. 2025–1986 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1912 (12.180.243). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

34. Relief of Queen Neferu Having Her Hair Done-72

Relief of Queen Neferu Having Her Hair Done. Limestone, paint. H. 19 cm (7½ in.), W. 23.6 cm (9¼ in.). Eleventh Dynasty, first half of reign of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (ca. 2051–2025 B.C.). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund (54.49)

16.1.3a, b

Pectoral of Princess Sithathoryunet. A. Pectoral Gold, inlaid with turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian, garnet H. 4.5 cm (1¾ in.), W. 8.2 cm (3¼ in.) B. Necklace Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, feldspar, amethyst, turquoise. Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret II (ca. 1887–1878 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Rogers Fund and Henry Walters Gift, 1916 (16.1.3a, b). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Head of a Statue of a Queen or Princess as a Sphinx

Head of a Statue of a Queen or Princess as a Sphinx. Chlorite. H. 38.9 cm (15⅜ in.), W. 33.3 cm (13⅛ in.), D. 35.4 cm (14 in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat II or Senwosret II (ca. 1919–1878 B.C.). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund (56.85)

63. Statue of Sealer Nemtihotep Seated-72

Statue of the Sealer Nemtihotep Seated. Quartzite. H. 76.5 cm (30⅛ in.), W. 25 cm (9⅞ in.), D. 44 cm (17⅜ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret III (ca. 1878–1840 B.C.). Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung (15700) Image: bpk, Berliin / Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung. Photo by Sandra Steiss / Art Resource, NY

76. Relief, Elite Woman of the Provinces-72

Relief of an Elite Woman of the Provinces. Limestone, paint. H. 72 cm (28⅜ in.), W. 33 cm (13 in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret II or Senwosret III (ca. 1887–1840 B.C.). The Trustees of the British Museum, London (AES 1150). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

131. Apotropaic Wand Fragment-72

Apotropaic Wand Fragment. Hippopotamus ivory. L. 9.5 cm (3¾ in.), W. 6.4 cm (2½ in.),Th. 1 cm (⅜ in.). Late Middle Kingdom (ca. 1900–1700 B.C.). Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Image: bpk, Berliin / Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung. Photo by Jürgen Liepe / Art Resource, NY

164. Stela of Khety and Wife Henet-72

Stela of Khety and His Wife Tenet. Limestone, paint. H. 44 cm (17⅜ in.), W. 77.2 cm (30⅜ in.), D. 11.2 cm (4⅜ in.). Early Twelfth Dynasty (ca. 1981–1917 B.C.). Kunsthistorisches Museum, Ägyptisch‐Orientalische Sammlung, Vienna (202)

169. Coffin, Nakhtkhnum (detail)-72

Coffin of Nakhtkhnum (detail). Wood, paint. W. 51.8 cm (20⅜ in.), H. 68 cm (26¾ in.). Late Twelfth to mid‐Thirteenth Dynasty (ca. 1850–1750 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund, 1915 (15.2.2a, b). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

173. Canopic Jars of Nebsen and Senwosret-72

Canopic Jars of Nebsen and Senwosret. Limestone. Nebsen jars: H. 40 cm (15¾ in.), Diam. 22 cm (8¾ in.); Senwosret jar: H. 39 cm (15⅜ in.), Diam. 22 cm (8¾ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat II or Senwosret II (ca. 1919–1878 B.C.). Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (AEIN 1501–3 [Nebsen], 1500 [Senwosret]). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

188. Game of Hounds and Jackals-72

Game of Hounds and Jackals. Ivory, ebony, sycamore. Board: L. 15.6 cm (6⅛ in.), W. 10.1 cm (4 in.), H. 6.8 cm (2⅝ in.); jackal pins: H. 7 cm (2¾ in.) to 8.5 cm (3⅜ in.); hound pins: H. 6 cm (2⅜ in.) to 6.8 cm (2⅝ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat IV (ca. 1814–1805 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1926 (26.7.1287a–k); Gift of Lord Carnarvon, 2012 (2012.508). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

189. Model Sailboat, detail-72

Model Sailboat (detail). Wood, plaster, paint, linen twine, cloth. L. 145 cm (57⅛ in.), L. with rudder 158 cm (62¼ in.), W. 28 cm (11 in.), W. with mast 81 cm (31⅞ in.), H. 53.4 cm (21 in.), H. with mast 112 cm (44⅛ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, early reign of Amenemhat I (ca. 1981–1975 B.C.). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Rogers Fund and Edward S. Harkness Gift, 1920 (20.3.4, 20.3.5). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

E 15567

Head of the Statue of a Bovine Deity. Limestone. H. 45 cm (17¾ in.), L. 54 cm (21¼ in.), D. 30 cm (11⅞ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, probably reign of Senwosret I (ca. 1961–1917 B.C.). Musée du Louvre, Paris, Département des Antiquités Égyptiennes (E 15567). Image: © Musée du Louvre, Dist. RMN‐Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY. Photo by Christian Decamps

210. Lintel, Senwosret I Running Toward Min (detail)-72

Lintel of Senwosret I Running Toward the God Min (detail). Limestone. Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Senwosret I (ca. 1961–1917 B.C.). The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London (UC 14786). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

200. Monument of Sihathor-72

Monument of Sihathor. Limestone. Stela: H. 114 cm (44⅞ in.), W. 64 cm (25¼ in.), D. 18 cm (7⅛ in.); statue: H. 42.5 cm (16¾ in.), W. 20 cm (7⅞ in.), D. 29 cm (11⅜ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat II (ca. 1919–1885 B.C.). The Trustees of the British Museum, London (AES 569, 570). Photograph by Anna‐Marie Kellen

221. Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh Seated -72

Colossal Statue of a Pharaoh Seated. Granodiorite. H. 320 cm (126 in.), W. 110.5 cm (43½ in.). Twelfth Dynasty, reign of Amenemhat II or Senwosret II (ca. 1919–1878 B.C.). Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung (7264); Long‐term loan to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (L.2011.42). Image: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Images courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art