<em>Queen Nefertiti</em>, ca. 1352–1348 B.C. Sandstone, pigment, 8 1/4 × 1 3/8 × 16 1/2 in. (21 × 3.5 × 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Christos G. Bastis in honor of Bernard V. Bothmer, 78.39. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.39_view1_PS2.jpg)

Queen Nefertiti, ca. 1352–1348 B.C. Sandstone, pigment, 8 1/4 × 1 3/8 × 16 1/2 in. (21 × 3.5 × 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Christos G. Bastis in honor of Bernard V. Bothmer, 78.39. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.39_view1_PS2.jpg)

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Is this relief Nefertiti? The features seem very masculine.

It is Nefertiti! This is a great question because during the Amarna Period (the room that you're in features all art from this period) the standards of Egyptian art were drastically different than any other period. If you spend some time in this room looking at details and features--like this masculine-looking queen--and then explore the other Egyptian art rooms, you will see the Amarna Period art breaks from traditions in many ways.

Can you tell me more about this sculpture of Nefertiti in sandstone?

This sunken relief shows how drastically different art was during the Amarna period. You can see that Nefertiti is depicted with laugh lines and neck creases, for instance.

Her arms are raised in a gesture of worship towards Aten, a manifestation of the Sun god, Re, depicted as a solar disk. Aten generally has solar arms that protrude from the sun disk, and was the sole deity during the Amarna period, representing a dramatic break from previously polytheistic ancient Egyptian religion.

According to Akhenaten and Nefertiti, they were the only people with direct contact to Aten, and were themselves semi-divine.

Thank you so much. Was this relief made in honor of their relationship?

An inscription behind her head does describe Nefertiti as "beloved of Aten," though we don't know why it was made. The relief serves, generally, to show Nefertiti honoring Aten, but as for location or intention in making the piece, we are unsure.

It most likely comes from a temple context, and is a good example of Nefertiti's (and by extension Akhenaten's) relationship with the Aten.

Many of the temples related to Aten were located at Amarna, or Akhetaten ("The Horizon of Aten"). This was the capital city of the period, a place where ceremonies, offerings, and hymns could be performed to honor the Aten.

Why are some of the Egyptian reliefs of women painted with red, which is the typical portrayal of men in Egyptian society?

During the Amarna period (when Nefertiti and her husband, Akhenaten, ruled), there were significant changes in art.

There was a gender ambiguity in depictions of Akhenaten and Nefertiti and the use of red coloring for both is likely tied to this as well.

Queen Nefertiti

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

The remains of blue paint on Nefertiti’s wig suggest a close relationship with the gods, who were believed to have hair of lapis lazuli, a rare stone. She raises her arms to worship Aten, the chief god of this period, and receives in return from the god an ankh sign at her nose, ensuring her life. The inscription refers to her as “Beloved of Aten.”

MEDIUM Sandstone, pigment

Possible Place Collected: Thebes (Karnak), Egypt

DATES ca. 1352–1348 B.C

DYNASTY Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom, Amarna Period

DIMENSIONS 8 1/4 × 1 3/8 × 16 1/2 in. (21 × 3.5 × 41.9 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 78.39

CREDIT LINE Gift of Christos G. Bastis in honor of Bernard V. Bothmer

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Sandstone slab decorated with a sunk relief representation of Queen Nefertiti. Preserved is that portion of the queen's figure from the shoulders to the top of the headband which encircles her heavy wig. The wig has curls "en echelon"; a uraeus rises from the front of the headband. The queen, who faces right, has her arms raised before her in a gesture of worship directed towards a now missing representation of the Aten. Before her nose is the sign of life suspended from a ray of sunlight. Behind her is the partial remains of a column of text. Condition: Top of head and top of uraeus, the hands and the body from below the shoulders are not preserved. Shoulders chipped; small chips here and there. Much red pigment preserved on the queen's skin and some blue pigment on the wig.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Queen Nefertiti, ca. 1352–1348 B.C. Sandstone, pigment, 8 1/4 × 1 3/8 × 16 1/2 in. (21 × 3.5 × 41.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Christos G. Bastis in honor of Bernard V. Bothmer, 78.39. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 78.39_view1_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 78.39_view1_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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