[Last modified: March, 24 2019 02:37 PM]
What do you think is the most appropriate compliment: “lovely earrings!” or “these earrings suit you well!”? Both are nice, but technically the second makes more sense. Jewellery is art for the body, it adorns the part of the body on which it is worn. For example, earrings frame the face. Although this Egyptian torque is beautiful as such, it aimed to drive the attention to the chest of its owner. Around the neck alone, Egyptians could wear torques, collars, necklaces, to enhance the exposed breasts. The Egyptians were often naked (slaves), shirtless (working classes) or quite soberly dressed, in white linen fabrics (higher ranks). More than clothes, jewellery had an aesthetic function.
Object details
Accession number: UCL 1872
Materials: Bronze, Lead soldier
Dimensions: Forms an approximate circle of 19 cm diameter
Source: The Institute of Archaeology Collections. Donated by Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson in 1945.
Can you guess what these Egyptians are doing ? Agricultural work, you guessed it. Farmers harvest with sickles, dig, thresh, sell grain, plough and cut trees. Take time to observe the clothing of the women and men of different social levels. These scenes are found in the tomb of Nakht, which dates from the 18th Dynasty (from 1550 to 1292 BC, first dynasty of the New Kingdom). It is located in Thebes. Be careful not to confuse the Egyptian city of Thebes with the greek city of the same name. The former was known to the ancient Egyptians as Waset, it was located about 800 kilometers south of the Mediterranean sea, along the Nile. Nowadays, the ruins left from it lie within the modern town Luxor.
Tomb mural. (15th century BC). Thebes: Tomb of Nakht.
The Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil painting by the dutch master Vermeer. It portrays an anonymous european young woman, probably from the merchant class which emerged at the time (Golden Age, 17th century), as trade with Indian colonies increased. That is why she wears an oriental turban, an exotic dress, and an earring, after which the painting is named. The piece of jewelry is placed next to the center of the canvas. The pattern of light and the shadows the pearl reflects is echoed in her eyes and on her face as a whole. The pearl allows us to engage with the entire artwork. Note that it is improbably large: the artist could not have afforded such a big pearl. It might be a glass or tin drop varnished to look like a pearl, or just an exaggeration of reality.
Is she turning towards or away form us ? Tell us in the comments.
Vermeer, J. (circa 1665). The Girl with a Pearl Earring. [Oil on Canvas] The Hague, Netherlands: Mauritshuis.