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| Ancient Egyptian Art is one of the most | | | | Ancient Egyptian figures, especially of gods and |
| recognized, admired and collected art in the | | | | pharaohs, are noticeable for their very formal, |
| history of the world. From delicate gold jewelry to | | | | even rigid stance and posture, but their faces are |
| vivid paintings to massive statues dozens of feet | | | | always serene, regardless of the scene in which |
| tall, for over 5,000 years Egyptian art has | | | | they are depicted. There were very strict rules |
| fascinated, delighted and awed generation after | | | | about how a god or pharaoh could be |
| generation with its beauty, style and mystery. | | | | represented, which even included a prohibition |
| While genuine ancient pieces of art are rare and | | | | against anything being drawn in front of the face |
| extremely valuable, modern Egyptian artists make | | | | or body of the pharaoh, even when the scene |
| beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by some | | | | depicted clearly required it for any kind of realism. |
| of the greatest recovered works from ancient | | | | Realism was simply not a goal of ancient Egyptian |
| sites, and which adheres strictly to the styles | | | | Art. It is these very formal and stylized rules that |
| used by ancient artists. Jewelry in gold and silver | | | | have made Egyptian Art one of the most widely |
| with inlaid stones are fashioned after pieces of | | | | recognized forms of art in the world. Over |
| jewelry recovered from ancient tombs. Papyrus | | | | thousands of years Egyptian artists adhered to |
| Paintings are painted in vivid color on genuine | | | | this one style, which is quite remarkable, especially |
| papyrus, made using the same principles | | | | as compared to the extreme differences in art |
| developed thousands of years ago on the banks | | | | expression that have occurred in the modern |
| of the Nile, where the papyrus plant grows to this | | | | world in just the past 100 years or so. The only |
| day. Paintings are executed in the style of | | | | acknowledged variations are in the portrayals of |
| frontalism, one of the most striking characteristics | | | | animals and common people as compared to the |
| of ancient Egypt. | | | | more formal depictions of pharaohs and gods. As |
| Frontalism | | | | can be seen in many Egyptian paintings, animals |
| Frontalism is the style in which every known piece | | | | and common people or slaves are represented in |
| of ancient Egyptian art was produced. In paintings, | | | | a more natural manner, though still within very |
| the style of frontalism means that the head of | | | | strict and formulaic rules. |
| the character is drawn in profile, while the body is | | | | This frontalist style is the primary reason why |
| drawn from a front view. However, even though | | | | ancient Egyptian art is so easily recognizable, and |
| the face is in profile, the eye is drawn in full, as it | | | | its appeal has lasted through many centuries to |
| would be seen from the front. The legs always | | | | this day. |
| face the same direction as the head, with one | | | | |