Eternal Egypt /anglais - Softcover

EDNA RUSSMANN

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714119423 ISBN 13: 9780714119427

Publisher: BRITISH MUSEUM, 2005

Synopsis

This sumptuously illustrated book is a wonderful introduction to the enormous and varied legacy of ancient Egypt. Created to accompany one of the greatest loan exhibitions ever to have been mounted from the collections of the British Museum, Eternal Egypt illustrates the development and achievements of ancient Egyptian art over a period of more than 3,000 years. Almost all of the artifacts have been drawn from the Museum's permanent exhibitions; many are among the finest examples of their kind to have survived from antiquity. Handsomely produced, this book reveals these objects—including sculpture, relief, papyri, hieroglyphic writing, jewelry, painting, cosmetic objects, and items of funerary equipment—as a means of extraordinary artistic expression rather than simply as historical documents. The book and the exhibit, which will travel to eight U.S. cities over the course of three years, provide a remarkable opportunity to explore the creative genius of one of the world's most extraordinary civilizations.

Eternal Egypt features the unique and innovative aspects of art from each period, as well as characteristic styles, forms, and genres. Edna Russmann, one of the world's leading authorities on ancient Egyptian art and curator of the exhibition, offers a wide-ranging and authoritative introductory essay that covers archaism, portraiture, and stylistic innovation in Egyptian art. The text also relates the history of the British Museum collection of Egyptian antiquities, showing how these exquisite art works came together. Each piece in the exhibition is given a separate explanatory entry in the book. With its superb color photographs and accessible yet informative text, Eternal Egypt marks a substantial step forward in scholarly understanding of its subject, embodying the results of the very latest research and containing many new and original insights and observations. It will be a must read for anyone with a passion for ancient Egypt.

Published in association with the American Federation of Arts by arrangement with the British Museum Press

About this title

Product Description:

Edited by exhibition curator Edna Russmann with a contribution form Harry James, this catalogue covers a new and previously under-exploited aspect of Egyptian history. No ancient civilization has a larger and more varied artistic legacy than Egypt, yet exhibitions have traditionally emphasized its importance as historical document rather than as extraordinary artistic expression. The catalogue features the unique and innovative aspects of art from each period, as well as its characteristic styles, forms and genre, including painting, hieroglyphic writing, jewellery and statuary. Edna Russmann's wide-ranging and authoritative introductory essays covers archaism, portraiture and sytlistic innovation in Egyptian art, while Harry James' history of The British Museum collection of Egyptian antiquities provides an insight into how these exquisite art works came together. Each individual piece in the exhibition is given a separate explanatory entry in the catalogue. This book should be valuable for anyone interested in the art history of ancient Egypt.

About the Author:

Edna R. Russmann is Curator of the Egyptian collections at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and guest curator of the exhibition.

About this edition

• Publisher: BRITISH MUSEUM
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0714119423
• ISBN 13: 9780714119427
• Binding: Paperback