Male Head

probably 19th or early 20th century

Style of Egyptian Ptolemaic Period

Associated Names
Anonymous Artist

Sculptor

Egyptian Ptolemaic Period

Related Artist

The sculpture depicts the head of a person in ancient Egyptian style. The person has a large forehead, almond-shaped eyes, and a small smile. The hair is shown as a thick wig with straight bangs and long strands falling to the shoulders. Carved from dark stone, the sculpture has a smooth surface with a subtle sheen. There are signs of wear around the edges, suggesting age and possibly that it is part of a larger artwork. The hair is detailed with horizontal lines and a textured pattern towards the ends, adding to the lifelike but formalized appearance typical of ancient Egyptian art.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    black granite

  • Credit Line

    Gift of David Keppel

  • Dimensions

    overall: 33 x 36.8 x 34.3 cm (13 x 14 1/2 x 13 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1949.15.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

David Keppel [d. 1956], New York;[1] gift 1949 to NGA.

[1] There is no record as to when or where Mr. Keppel, a print dealer, acquired the sculpture, but by 1949 he had owned it "for many years" (see letter from Douglas Lewis to Dr. Nicholas Reeves, 23 January 1989, in NGA curatorial files).

Associated Names

Bibliography

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 79, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q63810180

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