Relief of Mourning Women, ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E. Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco, 11 1/2 × 16 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.31E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.31E_PS9.jpg)
Relief of Mourning Women, ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E. Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco, 11 1/2 × 16 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.31E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.31E_bw.jpg)
Relief of Mourning Women, ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E. Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco, 11 1/2 × 16 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.31E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.37.31E_erg456.jpg)
Relief of Mourning Women
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
New Kingdom funerals often featured female mourners wailing and gesturing dramatically. Although sometimes called “professional mourners,” more likely these local women joined the funeral procession to express solidarity and sorrow, and also to participate in a public event.
The sloppy carving and indistinct lines show that the sculptor of this tomb relief was relatively unskilled, but he did successfully convey how ancient women demonstrated grief by throwing dust on their heads and even falling to the ground. The different shapes of the figures indicate different ages.
The sloppy carving and indistinct lines show that the sculptor of this tomb relief was relatively unskilled, but he did successfully convey how ancient women demonstrated grief by throwing dust on their heads and even falling to the ground. The different shapes of the figures indicate different ages.
MEDIUM
Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco
DATES
ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
late Dynasty 18 to early Dynasty 19
PERIOD
New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS
11 1/2 × 16 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.31E
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Description: This small relief of a limestone panel of women mourning is carved in relief, meaning that the figures project forward, off the flat background. The carving style is characteristic of the New Kingdom in which women are depicted performing a variety of mourning gestures with wailing expressions. The womens’ eyes bulge and their mouths are downturned in a frowning, mourning expression. Some women are depicted throwing dust over their heads and others fall to the ground in sorrow. Nine women are depicted mourning and throwing dirt over their heads in the background. Two women fall to the ground in mourning with a hand over their head in the foreground.
Condition: The only conservation report on the small limestone relief is from 2002 which states that the object is in good and stable condition. There are remnants of red pigment in the recessed areas and the surface is weather and abraded.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Relief of Mourning Women, ca. 1319–1204 B.C.E. Limestone, remains of pigment and stucco, 11 1/2 × 16 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 40.6 × 5.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.31E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.31E_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 37.31E_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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