Head of Queen Makare Hatshepsut: copy of a painted low relief in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir al-Bahri thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case SCX, Shelf 2

Head of Queen Makare Hatshepsut: copy of a painted low relief in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir al-Bahri

Watercolour
1893-1896 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Carter began excavating in Egypt thirty years before his famous discovery in 1922 of the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. One of his earliest assignments was as draughtsman accompanying the investigations of the Swiss archaeologist, Henri Edouard Naville, at the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir al-Bahri. Between 1893 and 1899 Carter made copies of all the visible wall paintings and inscriptions, and these were later photographically reproduced in Naville's six folio volumes, The Temple of Deir el Bahari (1895-1908). This watercolour is a copy of one of the few representations of Queen Hatshepsut (who reigned as a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, 1503-1482 BC) to survive defacement by her successor. Her portrait is a detail of the scene, Offering of Vases to Amon, which is Plate CXXXI of Part V in Naville's publication.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleHead of Queen Makare Hatshepsut: copy of a painted low relief in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir al-Bahri (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour heightened with white
Brief description
Watercolour, Head of Queen Makare Hatshepsut: copy of a painted low relief in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir al-Bahri, 1893-6, by Howard Carter
Physical description
Watercolour drawing
Dimensions
  • Height: 54.5cm
  • Width: 47.5cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Signed Howard Carter
Credit line
Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Shell International and the Friends of the V&A
Object history
According to Rodney Searight: - 'Bt.Christie's, 20.V.75, [128; with SD210] £52:50'. It once belonged to Lady Loch, daughter of the 5th Marquess of Northampton.
Historical context
As draughtsman to H.E.Naville's expedition at Deir al-Bahri, 1893-9, Carter copied all the scenes and inscriptions then visible on the Temple of Hatshepsut, for reproduction in collotype in Naville's folio volumes, The Temple of Deir el Bahari, 6 parts, 1895-1908. This watercolour is a detail of Offering of Vases to Amon, Pl.CXXXI, Part V (1906). Queen Makare Hatshepsut (18th Dynasty) reigned as Pharaoh 1503-482 BC.
Subject depicted
Places depicted
Summary
Carter began excavating in Egypt thirty years before his famous discovery in 1922 of the Tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. One of his earliest assignments was as draughtsman accompanying the investigations of the Swiss archaeologist, Henri Edouard Naville, at the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir al-Bahri. Between 1893 and 1899 Carter made copies of all the visible wall paintings and inscriptions, and these were later photographically reproduced in Naville's six folio volumes, The Temple of Deir el Bahari (1895-1908). This watercolour is a copy of one of the few representations of Queen Hatshepsut (who reigned as a pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty, 1503-1482 BC) to survive defacement by her successor. Her portrait is a detail of the scene, Offering of Vases to Amon, which is Plate CXXXI of Part V in Naville's publication.
Bibliographic references
  • Searight, Rodney and Scarce, Jennifer M., A Middle Eastern journey : artists on their travels from the collection of Rodney Searight, Talbot Rice Art Centre, 1980
  • Conner, Patrick (ed). The Inspiration of Egypt : its influence on British artists, travellers, and designers, 1700-1900. Brighton Borough Council, Brighton, 1983
Collection
Accession number
SD.209

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 22, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest