Egyptian painting and reliefs have no perspective. The three-dimensional is not sought and depicted, with people, animals, and objects arranged in two dimensions next to and above one another. However the side view is often combined with the front view: for people for example, head, mouth, torso, legs and feet are shown in profile, while eyes, upper body and hands are shown from the front. In this way shapes were clearer and more easily recognisable. The eye was depicted looking at the spectator, and though facial expressions were not detailed, the most vital part of the face was, with no concern for perspective.
As seen in the previous page, the colour has a particular significance with reddish-brown for the male bodies, yellow for the females, expect for goddess Hathor who, according to the law, had a skin as dark as one of a man. . Osiris the god of death is an exception altogether since his body is black or green.
Colours came from natural ingredients which were pulverised and diluted with water and gum which helped them to stick to the support. |
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Picture 2
King Merentpah standing before the falcon-head god Horus, who is carrying the crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Painted relief in the tomb of Merenptah, Valley of the Kings, 19th Dynasty
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Yellows and brick reds were obtained from desert ochres, white from chalk or lime. Lamp -black was also used. Blues and greens were extracted from calcined mixtures with a colbat base for blue, a copper base for green. |
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