Egyptian Wall Art Activity
Every example of Egyptian art from any time period strictly adheres to the same style. There is a code, or a set of rules for producing the artwork. The style is called “frontalism.”
In reliefs or paintings, frontalism means that the head of the character is always drawn in profile, while the body is seen from the front. Although the face is to the side, the eye is drawn in full. The legs are turned to the same side as the head, with one foot placed in front of the other. The head is at right angles to the body. Every figure, in paintings or sculptures, stands or sits with a formal, stiff, and rigid posture. The stance of the body is severe, but the faces are calm and serene, and almost always tilted slightly towards the sky, as if the figures were basking in the warm sun.
It is truly remarkable that in thousands of years, this was the one and only style. There are slightly different "rules" for the drawing of animals and slaves from the way pharaohs and gods and portrayed.
Rules for Egyptian Wall Painting
In Egyptian art, the translation of information was more important than realism. In creating Egyptian wall art, several rules must be followed.
Rule / DescriptionRule 1: Profile / · Head in profile
· Side view of eye and eyebrow
· Eye never looks straight ahead
Rule 2: Colour / · Men painted in red ochre
· Women painted in yellow ochre
Rule 3: Stance / · Hips have a three-quarter turn
· Chest and shoulders shown at their full width
· Both feet, legs, arms and hands must be shown
Rule 4: Scale / · Size of figures reflects social status
· Men are larger than women of equal status
· Wives and children often in crouching position,
with arms around the calves of the father
Rule 5: Proportions / · Hands and feet are often large compared to
the rest of the body
Egyptian Hieroglypics
Egyptian History:
Hieroglyphics (skhai en neter tur - writing of sacred words) are composed of signs representing objects of the physical world; these were always sculptured or painted and the linear generally used on the earlier papyri containing funeral rituals. There are four classes being:
1. Representational or ikonographic
2. Symbolic or tropical
3. Enigmatic
4. Phonetic
Discoveries have traced the "sculptured letters and alphabetical signs" [of the Ancient Egyptians] to periods prior to the existence of Abraham and Moses. Additionally, writings from Herodotus, Plato, Tactitus, Plutarch and others, indicate that many historians believed that Egypt had invented the method of alphabetical writing.
After Egypt was absorbed into the Roman Empire since 30 B.C., a large volume of immigrants of Greeks and Romans came into the country. Since they were largely unable to grasp the intricacies of Egyptian scripts, they adopted a written version of the Egyptian language now referred to as Coptic (transcribed into the Greek alphabet with seven extra letters to express sounds not found in Greek).
Father Athanasius Kircher was the first European scholar to identify Coptic as the last popular language of the Egyptians in 1643 A.D. Jean-Francois Champollion, was one of his students, eventually deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphic.
Resource: http://www.virtualsecrets.com/egyptian.html
How to Read Hieroglyphics
The hieroglyphs could be read either starting at the left or the right. In order to determine the direction to begin reading is to look for a human or animal symbol. The symbol will always face in the direction that the reading should start at. Reading is always done from top to bottom (such as with columns).
Pictured below is an ancient relief of how the Ancient Egyptians recorded moving a massive statue.
Resources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/decipherment_01.shtml
http://www.friesian.com/egypt.htm
The Funerary Scene
Egyptian Art Activity
1) Using comic life, each student will create his / her own personalized ‘wall art’. Comic Life: http://plasq.com/comiclife-win (free 30 day trial).
The art can depict his or her own life (family, interests, beliefs etc.) as if they were living in Ancient Egypt OR can tell a story OR act as a record
2) Criteria:
o One page layout (comic life)
o Follows all tenets of Egyptian art, hieroglyphics, frontalism, colours
o Central Theme: family, interests, beliefs, occupation, trades etc.
o Authentic look
o Any arts / crafts / material can be used
o Neat link: website generates your personal name in hieroglyphics: http://www.upennmuseum.com/hieroglyphsreal.cgi/
Rubric: Egyptian Wall Art Activity
Knowledge:
Content / Accuracy / All elements of artwork adheres to all tenets and rules of Egyptian art / Most elements of artwork follows tenets and rules of Egyptian art / Some elements of artwork adheres to tenets and rules of Egyptian art / Elements of art do not reflect tenets and rules of Egyptian art
Application:
Theme / Central theme is very relevant and explicitly depicts art of ancient Egypt / Central theme is relevant and generally depicts art of ancient Egypt / Theme is somewhat relevant and related to the art of Ancient Egypt / Theme is weak and poorly related
Application / Communication:
Creativity / Art medium and final product is very clear, organized and creative / Art medium and final product is clear and creative / Art medium and final product is somewhat clear and creative / Art medium and final product is weak and lacks creativity
Comments: