5.1 Egyptian Canons of Representation in Sculpture and Painting

Egyptian art followed strict rules for depicting people and scenes. These guidelines, called canons, ensured consistency across artworks for thousands of years. They used a grid system to maintain proper proportions and sizes.

The canons dictated how to show different body parts, like heads in profile but eyes from the front. Size mattered too – important people were bigger. These rules helped create a unique Egyptian style that lasted for centuries.

Egyptian Canons of Representation

Egyptian canon of proportions

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Top images from around the web for Egyptian canon of proportions

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  Rameses II - British Museum | Colossal bust of Ramesses II R… | Flickr View original

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  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

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  Ramsès II, le Jeune Memnon (British Museum) | Buste de Ramse… | Flickr View original

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  Rameses II - British Museum | Colossal bust of Ramesses II R… | Flickr View original

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  File:Ramesses II holding a crook and a flail. 19th Dynasty, c. 1240 BC. From Nubia. State Museum ... View original

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• Rigid and standardized system of proportions ensured consistency across artworks maintained for nearly 3,000 years
• Human figure divided into 18 equal parts from soles of feet to hairline with additional square for the hair
• Specific body part proportions included head to navel: 10 units, navel to knee: 6 units, knee to sole: 2 units
• Frontal view for torso and eye while profile view for head, arms, and legs created composite perspective
• Idealized representation depicted youthful appearance and perfect physique (statues of Ramesses II)

Grid system in figure representation

• Grid system formed foundation for artwork using horizontal and vertical lines forming squares typically 18 squares tall for standing figures
• Ensured accurate proportions facilitating consistent representation across different artists and transfer of small sketches to large-scale works (tomb paintings)
• Allowed precise placement of body parts with specific grid squares corresponding to particular features (eyes, nose, mouth)
• Enabled standardization of artistic style maintaining continuity in Egyptian art over centuries (Old Kingdom to New Kingdom)
• Influenced overall composition helping create balanced and harmonious arrangements in wall reliefs and paintings

Hierarchical scale for social status

• Size indicated importance with larger figures representing more significant individuals and smaller figures depicting less important people
• Pharaohs and gods depicted largest often shown larger than life emphasizing their divine and royal status (Colossal statues of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel)
• Family members and high-ranking officials depicted smaller than pharaohs but larger than common people
• Servants and slaves represented as the smallest figures in scenes
• Animals and objects sized according to their relative importance in the scene
• Reinforced social hierarchy and power structures reflecting religious and political ideologies visually representing societal order

Stylistic conventions of human form

• Composite view (aspective) combined multiple perspectives in a single figure
• Head in profile showed distinctive facial features with eye depicted frontally within the profile
• Shoulders and torso in frontal view displayed broad chest and both shoulders
• Arms and legs in profile captured dynamic poses and actions
• Feet shown from the inside view with both feet visible typically with the near foot stepping forward
• Gender-specific representations often depicted men with darker skin tones and women with lighter skin
• Stylized facial features included almond-shaped eyes straight noses and full lips
• Minimal indication of musculature resulted in smooth idealized body forms
• Emphasis on clarity and readability showed each body part from its most recognizable angle (Narmer Palette)