Throughout ancient Egyptian history, art and culture remained constant to support the idea of “order over chaos.” However, in the mid-14th century BCE a revolution occurred in Egyptian society, culture, and religion, consequently causing a brief transformation in Egyptian art. These changes can be detected in the Relief of Princess with an Earring. This sculpture was made in the 18th Dynasty (1353-1336 BCE), during the reign of Akhenaten. Although only a portion of the limestone relief is displayed in the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology, the sculpture still demonstrates the attributes that are found in art from Amarna Period. The Relief of Princess with an Earring is a sunken relief sculpture that is made out of limestone.
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This can be perceived in the Relief of Princess with an Earring. Before the Amarna period pharaohs are portrait idealized, masculine and followed the cannon of proportion and women are shown feminine and represent fertile figures. Figures seemed to be depicted static and timeless. Conversely, during the Amarna period, and demonstrated in the Relief of Princess with an Earring, both narrative and movement arise in art. For example, here Akhenaten is represented both masculine and feminine. The relief of Akhenaten demonstrates him with elongated face, thick lips, larger hips and thighs, detailed toes and figures, sunken belly and narrow shoulders. Similarly, Nefertiti is represented with the same features. Both figures are seated in a calm reclining pose and are in twisted perspective. In addition, the daughters are displayed in twisted perspective for readability of the story. The older daughter is standing up on a specific ground line with Akhenaten’s hand placed on her shoulder. While the younger daughter is supported in the pharaoh’s other hand. Also the figures appear with undulating curves rather than rigid lines. Furthermore, the pharaoh and his wife have hierarchy of scale over their daughters, but are displayed equal to each other. This illustrates the importance of family that is only shown in Amarna …show more content…
Just like the Relief of Princess with an Earring, the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters shows the important family bond. Moreover the two relief sculptures depict Akhenaton and Nefertiti seated on either side of the composition with their daughter around them. While the daughters are being held by their parents, the sun god arises at the center of the composition. Here, just like in the Relief of Princess with an Earring, Aton is shown as a sundisk with spreading arms, this reminds of the monotheistic religion during the Amarna period . Additionally, both the Relief of Princess with an Earring and the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters shown with overpowering proportions, wide hips, thin legs and stylized bodies. Furthermore, the two reliefs depict the same scene of the royal family engaged in their day to day activity. Dorothea Arnold in her article deliberates the intimate family moments within the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters. Here, Akhenaten is holding his daughter Meretaten, while his other daughter Mekeaten plays on Nefertiti’s lap . Arnold also claims that the relief stela "relates to the Aten religion 's concept of creation" this shows that Akhenaton and Nefertiti are viewed as "a primeval 'first pair." The Relief of Princess with an Earring and the relief
This can be perceived in the Relief of Princess with an Earring. Before the Amarna period pharaohs are portrait idealized, masculine and followed the cannon of proportion and women are shown feminine and represent fertile figures. Figures seemed to be depicted static and timeless. Conversely, during the Amarna period, and demonstrated in the Relief of Princess with an Earring, both narrative and movement arise in art. For example, here Akhenaten is represented both masculine and feminine. The relief of Akhenaten demonstrates him with elongated face, thick lips, larger hips and thighs, detailed toes and figures, sunken belly and narrow shoulders. Similarly, Nefertiti is represented with the same features. Both figures are seated in a calm reclining pose and are in twisted perspective. In addition, the daughters are displayed in twisted perspective for readability of the story. The older daughter is standing up on a specific ground line with Akhenaten’s hand placed on her shoulder. While the younger daughter is supported in the pharaoh’s other hand. Also the figures appear with undulating curves rather than rigid lines. Furthermore, the pharaoh and his wife have hierarchy of scale over their daughters, but are displayed equal to each other. This illustrates the importance of family that is only shown in Amarna …show more content…
Just like the Relief of Princess with an Earring, the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters shows the important family bond. Moreover the two relief sculptures depict Akhenaton and Nefertiti seated on either side of the composition with their daughter around them. While the daughters are being held by their parents, the sun god arises at the center of the composition. Here, just like in the Relief of Princess with an Earring, Aton is shown as a sundisk with spreading arms, this reminds of the monotheistic religion during the Amarna period . Additionally, both the Relief of Princess with an Earring and the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters shown with overpowering proportions, wide hips, thin legs and stylized bodies. Furthermore, the two reliefs depict the same scene of the royal family engaged in their day to day activity. Dorothea Arnold in her article deliberates the intimate family moments within the relief stele Akhenaton, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters. Here, Akhenaten is holding his daughter Meretaten, while his other daughter Mekeaten plays on Nefertiti’s lap . Arnold also claims that the relief stela "relates to the Aten religion 's concept of creation" this shows that Akhenaton and Nefertiti are viewed as "a primeval 'first pair." The Relief of Princess with an Earring and the relief