The statue of Queen Nefertiti is one of the most famous examples of ancient art, depicting the image of one of the most beautiful women of antiquity. It was created in Egypt, circa 1345 BC, by the sculptor Thutmose, who was the official court sculptor of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, and has occupied the post since at least 1350 BC (Hewson, 2016). The bust can currently be seen in the Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany, where it is displayed for public viewership. The bust has become somewhat of a symbol of Berlin, although the legitimacy of its belonging in Germany is hotly contested by Egypt, which demands the bust’s repatriation (Hewson, 2016).
The statue was created in the Amarna art style, which Thutmose was a known proponent of. It is classified by its slender, swaying, and slightly exaggerated extremities, something which traveled from the 2-dimensional drawings and reliefs onto the 3-dimensional sculpture of Nefertiti (Hewson, 2016). The exaggerated parts of her bust include an unusually long and thin neck, and the overly heavy head compared to the rest of the bust (Hewson, 2016). However, the bust itself shows a high degree of realism, which is more contemporary to the classic Egyptian style rather than Amarna, suggesting that the work could have been a blend between the two.
The statue itself was made out of limestone and stucco, with different colors achieved from other materials. Blue color was achieved through powdered frit with copper oxide, the skin color (light red) was made out of powdered lime with red chalk, yellow – with orpiment (Hewson, 2016). The color green was made using a mixture of powdered frit, copper, and iron oxide. Black pigment was created using coal and wax, while white was made of simple chalk (Hewson, 2016). What resonated with me about the sculpture is how beautiful and idealized its forms were, showing that people always wanted others to see them in a perfect light. The Amarna style added uniqueness to the piece by highlighting the important physical differences that made Nefertiti stand out from others, in terms of heritage and genetic makeup.
Reference
Hewson, C. (2016). The mystery of Nefertiti. Primary Teacher Update, 2016(56), 7-8.