The Art of Ancient Egypt

by Gay Robins

THIS EDITION HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A NEWER EDITION.. From the awesome grandeur of the great pyramids to the delicacy of a face etched on an amulet, the spellbinding power of the art of ancient Egypt persists to this day. This beautifully illustrated book conducts us through the splendors of this world, great and small, and into the mysteries of its fascination in its day as well as in our own. What did art, and the architecture that housed it, mean to the ancient Egyptians? Why did they invest such vast wealth and effort in its production? These are the puzzles Gay Robins explores as she examines the objects of Egyptian art--the tombs and wall paintings, the sculpture and stelae, the coffins, funerary papyri, and amulets--from its first flowering in the Early Dynastic period to its final resurgence in the time of the Ptolemies. Spanning three thousand years, her book offers a thorough and delightfully readable introduction to the art of ancient Egypt even as it provides insight into questions that have long perplexed experts and amateurs alike. With remarkable sensitivity to the complex ways in which historical, religious, and social changes are related to changes in Egyptian art, she brings out the power and significance of the image in Egyptian belief and life. Her attention to the later period, including Ptolemaic art, shows for the first time how Egyptian art is a continuous phenomenon, changing to meet the needs of different times, right down to the eclipse of ancient Egyptian culture. In its scope, its detail, and its eloquent reproduction of over 250 objects from the British Museum and other collections in Europe, the United States, and Egypt, this volume is without parallel as a guide to the art of ancient Egypt.

Genres: History, Art, Egypt, Nonfiction, Art History, Egyptology, Textbooks

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2008

About the author

An art historian, her work focuses on ancient Egyptian art, composition, gender and sexuality.

Professor Gay Robins studied Egyptology as an undergraduate at the University of Durham, and then obtained a D.Phil. from Oxford University in 1981 under the supervision of Professor John Baines. In 1988 obtained her promotion to Professor. She retired in 2018 as Professor Emerita of Art History.
Over the course of her career, she has published numerous articles and books on the topics of Ancient Egyptian art, the decoration of eighteenth dynasty non-royal Theban tombs, and women and gender issues in Ancient Egypt.

Reviews

[missART · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might as well add this since I am going to read the whole thing for my class! :)

[zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly one of the best books on Egyptian art. This book has helped me loads and loads.

[Inas · Rating 5 out of 5]

That wasn't a reading but, I approximately memorized this book!!
Although, My eyes were exhausted because of the mini size of texts. It was my sole friend during the MA preliminary year.

[Peyton Honeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come across many books on ancient Egyptian art and this one is by far the best introduction on the topic! It is an easily digestible overview and extremely informative. It also features many high quality images with descriptive captions to accompany the text. I read this book over a year ago and still recall bits of information that I read when the topic of ancient Egypt comes up in conversation. It is a great jumping off point if a specific period of Egyptian art captures your interest. It has become one of my favorite additions to the art history bookshelf in my home!

[Anshin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non so, forse amo le opere monumentali ma complete, ma questo libro ha rappresentato per me una sorta di "assaggio" sull'arte dell'Egitto antico. Sicuramente è ben strutturato ed organizzato, e molte spiegazioni vengono date in modo molto più limpido che altrove, però alcune cose fondamentali non appaiono..e alcuni concetti sembrano essere riportati in maniera ripetitiva per tutta la lunghezza del volume.

[AskHistorians]

Standard book on Egyptian art. Outlines Egyptian art styles through the Ptolemaic. Lots of beautiful illustrations

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Textbook in a class at college

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos and figures. Good descriptions of how art changed through time in ancient Egypt.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish it had more art and less text.

[Carrie-Anne Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for CLAR 242. Decent as far as textbooks go with lots of visuals.

[Emily Broach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for an Art History class. It was pretty good. Had to take LOTs of breaks while reading it.

[Lulu]

frescoe Tomb 100 at Hierakonpolis, c.3500–3200 BC


khnumhotep and niankhkhnum

c. 2000 BCE https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/...


1186-1070 BCE https://www.facsimilefinder.com/facsi...

Bes jar c. 500 BCE

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction, highly recommended.

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like 2.5.

Very much a textbook, but a readable one. Plus, it's gorgeous.