Skatal Egyptian drawings. Painting ancient Egypt: what she is

From the very beginning of the Egyptian culture, painting played the role of chief decorative art. The painting of ancient Egypt slowly developed for millennia. What did the Egyptians reached during this time?

The basis for painting most often served walls with bas-reliefs. Paints were applied to plastered walls. The placement of the painting was subordinate to the strict standards that the priests dictated. Such principles as the correctness of geometric forms and contemplation of nature were strictly respected. The painting of ancient Egypt was always accompanied by hieroglyphs explaining the meaning of the depicted.

Space and composition.In Egyptian painting, all the elements of the composition look flat. When you need to imagine the figures deep into, artists impose them on each other. Figures are distributed horizontal stripes that are separated by lines. The most important scenes are always located in the center.

An image of a human figure. Egyptian people's drawings in the same extent include features in the FAS and in the profile. To comply with the proportion, artists dragged the grid on the wall. More ancient samples consist of 18 squares (4 elbows), while newer numbers are numb 21 squares. Women were depicted with pale yellow or pink skin. To create a male image, brown or dark red color was used. People were made to portray in the heyday.

to comply with the proportions, artists used the grid

Egyptian painting is peculiar to the so-called "hierarchical" look. For example, the higher the social status of the person depicted, the greater the size of the figure. Therefore, in the scenes of the battle, Pharaoh often looks a giant. Images of people can be divided by archetypes: Pharaoh, scribe, artisan, etc. The figures of the lower social layers are always more realistic and dynamic.

Application color. Artists followed a pre-installed program, which means each color had a certain symbolism. It is believed that the origins of the flower values \u200b\u200bof the Egyptian painting were in the contemplation of the Color Perelovy Nile. We highlight the value of the main colors used by artists:

• blue - promise of a new life;
• green - expression of vital hopes, rebirth and youth;
• red - the symbol of evil and fruitless land;
• white - a sign of victory and joy;
• black is a symbol of death and return to life in the otherworldly;
• yellow - the expression of eternity and the imperious Divine flesh.

The background tone depends on the era. For the ancient kingdom, a gray background is characterized, and for the new kingdom - pale yellow.

Painting an ancient kingdom

The ancient kingdom covers the period from 27 to 22th century BC. It was then that the construction of great pyramids took place. At this time, the bas-relief and painting still did not differ among themselves. Both means of expression were used to decorate the tomb of pharaohs, members of the royal family and officials. During the ancient kingdom, the style of painting is formed uniform for the whole country.

Features

The first wall murals differ quite narrow colors, mostly black, brown, white, red and green shades. The image of people is subordinate to the hard canon, the rigor of which is higher than the higher the status of the depicted. Dynamism and expression are characteristic of figures depicting secondary characters.

Mainly depicted scenes from the life of the gods and pharaohs. Colorful frescoes and reliefs recreate the situation, which should surround the dead man, in which world he was not. Painting reaches high filigree, both in the characteristics of characters and in the silhouettes of hieroglyphs.

Example

One of the most significant monuments of the ancient kingdom are the sculptures of Tsarevich Rakhhotpa and his wife Nofret (27 century BC). The male figure is painted in brick-red, and female - in yellow. Black hair figures, and white clothes. Halftone is absent.

Painting of the middle kingdom

It will be about the period that lasted from 22 to 18th to AD. Throughout this era in wall painting, the structure and orderliness that was absent in the era of the ancient kingdom were manifested. The painted multicolor relief occupies a special place.

Features

In cave tombs, you can see complex scenes that are highly dynamic than in previous era. Additional attention is paid to the contemplation of nature. Murals are increasingly decorated with vegetable ornaments. Attention is paid not only to the ruling class, but also by the usual Egyptians, for example, you can see farmers at work. In this case, the inalienable features of painting are the perfect order and clarity of the depicted.

Example

Most of all, against the background of other monuments, the murals of the tomb of the Narch Khnumhotep II are distinguished. Scenes of hunting, where animal figures are transmitted using halftone. No less impress the murals of tombs in the philas.

Painting of the new kingdom

The new kingdom scientists call the period from 16 to 11th century BC. This era is highlighted by the best samples of Egyptian art. At this time, painting reached his highest heyday. The spread of tombs contributes to the development of painting on the walls covered with plaster. Brighter than the freedom of expression manifests itself in the tombs of individuals.

Features

For the era of the new kingdom, an unknown color gradation and light-permeability is characteristic of that time. Contacts with the peoples of Asia bring fascination with details and ornamented forms. The impression of movement increases. Dyes cease to be applied with a smooth matte layer, artists try to show soft tonal overflows.

Through painting, Pharaohs demonstrated their strength to border peoples. Therefore, the image of scenes reproducing military episodes was common. Separately, it is worth mentioning the theme of Pharaoh in the harmful combat chariot, the latter was brought by gixos. Images of historical character appear. Art increasingly echoes national proud. The rulers turn the walls of the temples in the "canvas", which focus on the role of Pharaoh as a defender.

Example

Tomb Nefertari.This is a perfect ensemble of painting and architecture. At the moment it is the most beautiful tomb of the Tsaritsa Valley. Painting occupy an area of \u200b\u200b520 m². On the walls you can see some chapters from the book of the dead, as well as the path of the queen in the afterlife kingdom.

• The first preserved ancient Egyptian monumental painting was found in the funeral crypt of 4 thousand BC, located in Gyriconpol. She depicts people and animals.
• The ancient Egyptians painted with mineral paints. Black paint was mined from soot, white - from limestone, green - from Malachite, red - from the ocher, blue - from cobalt.
• In ancient Egyptian culture, the image played the role of a double reality. The painting of the tombs guaranteed the departed that in the afterlife they are waiting for the same benefits as in the world of people.
• In ancient Egypt, it was believed that images had magical properties. At the same time, their strength was directly depended on the quality of painting, which explains the special care with which the Egyptians belonged to painting.

Despite numerous studies dedicated to the painting of ancient Egypt, there are still not all the secrets of this art. To understand the true meaning of each drawing and each sculpture, scientists will have to work for a non-one century.

Pictures and engravings on the rocks began to draw for tens of thousands of years before the birth of such civilizations, like Greece and Mesopotamia. Although most of these works remain a mystery, they strengthen modern scientists to understand the daily life of prehistoric people, understand their religious beliefs and culture. This is a real miracle that these ancient drawings have been preserved during such a long time in the face of natural erosion, wars and destructive human activity.

1. El Castillo

Spain
Some of the oldest famous rock paintings in the world, which depict horses, bridges and warriors are in the cave El Castillo, in Cantabria in the north of Spain. Inside the cave leads the hole, so narrow that it takes a crawling through it. In the same cave you can find a lot of drawings, which turned out at least 40,800 years.

They were made shortly after people began to migrate from Africa to Europe, where they met with Neanderthals. In fact, the age of rock paintings involves the possibility that they were made by Neanderthals, who at that time lived in this region, although evidence of this is not at all convincing.

2.Suslavy

Indonesia
For a long time it was believed that the oldest famous rock paintings were found in El Castillo's cave. But in 2014, archaeologists made a stunning discovery. In the seven caves on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi on the walls found fingerprints and primitive drawings of local pigs.

These images have already been known to local residents, but no one even guessed how old they are. Scientists estimated the age of rocking drawings of 40,000 years. Such discovery questioned the long-standing conviction that human art first appeared in Europe.

3. Plateau Arnhem Lend

Australia
Recent studies have shown that some places in Australia can fully arrange by age with the most ancient art in the world. In the stone refuge, Majabarnmang was found in the north of the country found rocking painting in 28,000 years. However, scientists believe that some drawings can be much older, since one of them shows a giant bird, which extinct about 40,000 years ago.

Therefore, or rock art older than was supposed, or the bird lived longer than the modern science suggests. In Navarl, Gabarnmang can also find drawings of fish, crocodiles, Kangaroo-Wallaby, lizards, turtles and other animals made of tens of thousands of years ago.

4. Apollo-11

Namibia
This cave received such an unusual name, because it was discovered by the German archaeologist in 1969, when the first spacecraft (Apollo-11) landed on the moon. On the stone plates of the cave in the southwestern Namibia drawings made by charcoal, ocher and white paint were found.

Images of creatures that resemble cats, zebras, ostriches and giraffes have been from 26,000 to 28,000 years, and they are the oldest fine art found in Africa.

5. Pesh-Merl Cave

France
Scientists believed that the images of two spotted horses on the walls of the Pesh-Merl cave in the south-central part of France, which were made 25,000 years ago, are the fruit of the imagination of an ancient artist. But recent DNA studies have shown that such spotted horses really existed in this region at the time. Also in the cave you can find 5000-year-old images of bison, mammoths, horses and other animals drawn by black manganese oxide and red okra.

6. Tadrart-Akus

Libya
Deep in the Sahara Desert in the south-west of Libya in the Tadrart-Akacus Mountainside, thousands of paintings and rock paintings were found, which show that no time in these arid lands was water and flowered lush vegetation. Also on the territory of the current Sahara lived giraffes, rhinos, and crocodiles. The oldest drawing here was made 12,000 years ago. But after Tadrart-Akacus began to absorb the desert, people finally left this place about 100 AD.

7. Bhimbet

India
In Madhya Pradesh, there are about 600 caves and rock dwellings, in which they found rocky paintings, made between 1,000 and 12,000 years ago.
These prehistoric images are drawn in red and white paint. In the pictures you can meet the scenes of hunting on buffaloes, tigers, giraffes, elk, lions, leopards, elephants and rhinos. Other drawings show the collection of fruits and honey and domestication of animals. You can also find images of animals that have long been extinct in India.

8. Lasa Gal

Somalia
A complex of eight caves in Somaliland contains one of the most ancient and most well-preserved rocky paintings in Africa. Their age is estimated between 5,000 and 11,000 years, and these drawings of cows, people, dogs and giraffes in red, orange and creamy are performed. About people who lived here at that time practically nothing is known, but many local residents still consider the caves sacred.

9. Cueva de Las Manos

Argentina
This unusual cave in Patagonia is literally overflowing with 9,000-year-old red and black hand prints on the walls. Since there are mostly images of the left hands of teenage boys, scientists suggested that the application of the image of their hand was part of the rite of initiation of the young men. In addition, the cave can also find scenes of hunting on Guanako and non-flying birds Nanda.

10. Plovmts cave

Egypt
In the Libyan Desert in 1933 they found a cave with rock painting of the era of Neolith. Images of floating people (because of which the cave received its name), as well as handprints, and which decorate the walls, were made between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago.

It was constant depending on religious requirements, which was expressed in its special development that had a cult character. Traditionally, it is characterized by strict formalization, following certain canonical schemes or artistic standards that have developed in the era of the ancient kingdom, with the first and second dynasties. So, the figure of a man was depicted in the profile (or rather the head and lower part of the body - in the profile, and the eyes and shoulders in the FAS). On the other hand, it should be said about the high degree of realism, which prevails in the visual descriptions of the objects of nature, agricultural and other practical activities of a person. who used ancient Egyptian artists, - white, red, blue, black, yellow, silver and green.

At first glance, it may seem that the painting of ancient Egypt remained unchanged for thousands of years, but it is not. It developed and changed depending on how society itself developed and changed. And even in the rigorous framework of canonical art, some art schools and individual masters showed their creative ideas.

In general, the image of a person in terms of is one of the main features of Egyptian art. The painting of ancient Egypt is characterized by complex images of most identifying features and parts of a person who were more thorough than an image of any realistic posture, because they helped ka (or ku), the second shell of a person who represents its energy twin or twin soul and inhabited in the tomb unmistakably Learn the deceased and match it. Therefore, the portrait similarity of the pictorial or sculptural image was very important. In theory, the mummy had to become a pier for ka, but in case of damage, it made himself in the image. As a picture of people, their social status was taken into account. It was described by such elements like a suit, hats, ceremonial accessories, which were in the hands of a person depicted. In other words, the painting of ancient Egypt, which is an extremely interesting and bright sample of art, focused exclusively to represent the images.

Most picturesque works (in tempera techniques) were drawn on a stone or plaster consisting of layers of plaster, straw and clay. As a rule, artists worked in groups under the guidance of masters. The masters applied contours and details of future images, and the artists painted them. Drew pigments that were obtained as a result of a variety of chemical processes, they were all very symbolic. As in medieval Europe, the painting of Egypt did not apply to a specific type of human activity - craft or art. In other words, if you perceive the Egyptian artist in a modern concept, he did not imagine the names of some specific artists who became famous for their outstanding achievements.

Given the extraordinary religiousness of the Egyptian civilization, most of the topics in painting are associated with images of gods and goddesses, Pharaohs were one of them. Such an art rule, as did not exist in the presentation of Egyptian artists. The main focus was made on the size of the figure than it is more, the higher the person depicted.

A kind of cultural revolution occurred in the country during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Ehnaton). An incredible religious reform concluded in the commitment of monotheism (monoboise), conducted by Ehnaton, introduced radical changes in art. It has become naturalistic, dynamic. Portraits of Egyptian nobility were no longer idealized, and some of them were even caricatured. But after the death of Ehnathon, everything returned to the old traditions characterizing the whole ancient Egypt in general. Art was still determined by conservative values \u200b\u200band strict procedure up to the Hellenistic era.

There is something magically attractive and at the same time sad in petroglyphs. The names of talented artists of antiquity and their history we will never know. All that we have left is the rock paintings by which you can try to imagine the life of our distant ancestors. Let's look at the 9 famous caves with weak pictures.

Cave Altaamira

Opened in 1879, Marcelino de Soutola in Spain is not known for the Sicastine Chapel of Primitive Art. The techniques that were in service with the ancient artists, the impressionists began to use in their work only in the 19th century.

Painting found by the daughter of an amateur archaeologist, made a lot of noise in the scientist community. The researchers were even accused of falsification - no one could believe that such talented drawings were created by the millennium ago.

Pictures are realistic, some of them are volumetric - a special effect managed to achieve using a natural relief of the walls.

After opening in the cave, everyone could go away. Due to the permanent visits of tourists inside the temperature has changed, mold appeared in the pictures. Today the cave is closed for visitors, but not far from it is the Museum of Ancient History and Archeology. Just 30 km from the cave of Altamir, you can get acquainted with copies of rock paintings and curious finds of archaeologists.

Cave lacco

In 1940, a group of adolescents accidentally found a cave next to Montylekom in France, the entrance to which the tree was discovered during a thunderstorm. It is small, but thousands of drawings are under vaults. Some of them ancient artists began to apply on the walls in the 18th century to our era.

People, symbols and motion are depicted here. Researchers divided the cave on thematic zones for convenience. Far outside of France are famous drawings of the bull hall, the other name is Rotunda. There is the largest rock painter, of all discovered - 5-meter bull.

Under the arches there are more than 300 drawings, including here you can see the animals of the ice age. It is assumed that the age of some pictures is about 30 thousand years.

Cave NIO

In the south-east of France, there is a painting inside which local residents knew back in the 17th century. However, the proper values \u200b\u200bof the drawings did not attach, leaving a number of numerous inscriptions.

In 1906, Captain Molyar discovered inside the hall with images of animals, which later received the name of the black cabin.

Inside you can see bison, deer and goats. Scientists believe that in antiquity there were rituals to attract good luck on the hunt. For tourists, the Pyrenean Park of Prehistoric Art is open, where you can learn more about archeology.

Cave cosk

Not far from Marseille is located, to get into which only those who can swim well can. To see ancient images, you need to swim through the 137-meter tunnel, located deep under water. Opened an unusual place in 1985 Diver Henri Kosk. Scientists believe that some images of animals and birds discovered inside were made 29 thousand years ago.

Capov Cave (Schulgan-Tash)

Cave of Cueva de Las Manos

In the south of Argentina in 1941, also discovered an ancient painting. There is not one cave, but a whole series, the total length of which is 160 km. The most famous of them is Cueva de Las Manos. Its name is translated into Russian as "".

Inside many images of human palms - our ancestors did on the walls of the prints with left hands. In addition, here you can see the scenes of hunting and ancient inscriptions. Images are made from 9 to 13 thousand years ago.

Nerja caves

Nerja caves are 5 km from the city of the same name in Spain. The rock paintings were open by chance by teenagers, as it had previously happened and in the cave shop. Five guys went to catch bats, but accidentally saw a hole in the rock, looked inside and discovered a corridor with stalagmites and stalactites. Nakhodka interested scientists.

The cave turned out to be impressive sizes - 35,484 square meters, which is equivalent to five soccer fields. The fact that people lived in it, a lot of finds testify: tools, traces of the hearth, ceramics. Below are the three halls. The ghost hall scares guests with unusual sounds and strange outlines. The waterfall hall was equipped with a concert hall, 100 viewers can simultaneously be located.

Montserrat Caballe, Maya Plisetskaya and other famous artists appeared. The Bethlehem Hall is striking with bizarre columns with stalactites and stalagmites. Fashionable drawings can be seen in the Hall of Copy and Hall of Mountains.

Before the discovery of this cave, scientists assumed that the most ancient drawings are in the cave of Shaw. According to the latest research, our distant ancestors began to engage in creativity even earlier than the modern science considered. The results of radiocarbon analysis have shown that six images of seals and sea seals were made allegedly 43 thousand years ago - respectively, they are even older than rock painting discovered in Shaw. However, the conclusions still do early.

Cave Magura

Images in all these caves and methods of applying drawings are completely different. Nevertheless, there are general features. Artists of antiquity were transferred with the help of creativity their perception of the world and shared their eyes on life, just did it not with words, but pictures.

Why the Egyptians portrayed all people flat and in the profile of January 9th, 2017

The ancient Egyptians are well known for their phenomenal architectural buildings, artwork and a large pantheon of exotic gods. Faith in the afterlife and all aspects of its manifestation and made Egyptians famous for the whole world. When viewing a variety of artistic works of those years, it can be noted that all people and gods are depicted in profile (side). The pictures do not apply the prospect, there is no "depth" of the image.

Why or why was this style applied?

Burial portrait of a young man. Egypt, II century AD | Photo: ru.wikipedia.org.

It would be possible to think that the case was only that it was just that was able to draw in ancient Egypt. It was very and very long ago. Remember, for example, rock painting in the caves - it seems. In fact, writing realistic paintings in Egypt was able to. The most famous example of antique painting - Fayum portraits of the I-III centuries AD Many historians and art historians break a spear above the issues of artificial primitivism of Egyptian painting.

And this is what ideas are offered ...

1. At that time, the "three-dimension" image has not yet invented

Egyptian gods on the walls of the tomb of Nefertari. Photo: Egyptopedia.info.

All drawings of ancient Egypt are made "flat", but with small details. Perhaps most artists were simply not capable of creating complex compositions with people in realistic poses. Therefore, typical canons took: the heads and legs of all people and gods are depicted in profile. Shoulders, on the contrary, deployed directly. Hands sitting always rest on the knees.

2. Intentional simplification as a social aspect

Official during bird hunting. | Photo: Egyptopedia.info.

The Egyptians invented an excellent way to get rid of the third dimension and used it for the presentation of the social role of the pictured people. As represented in those years, the painting could not be close to Pharaoh, God and a simple person, because it exalted the latter. Therefore, all the figures did a different size: Pharaohs are the largest, dignitaries - less workers and slaves are the smallest. But then, realistically drawing two people of different status nearby, one of them would look like a child. It is better to portray people schematically.

3. The challenge is a straight look.

In the kingdom of animals: the beasts avoid watching each other in the eyes. The challenge is considered a direct look. See how dogs fight. Weak - addressed to a strong opponent in profile, or applies the neck. The gods are so high and sacred that a person, even the artist, has the right of only a schos to watch the life of omnipotent. Just in the eyes there is only death, equal to the angry God. Therefore, a person can only observe, and in no way to participate in the sacraments of Divine Liturgy.

The second answer could explain the image technology.
The painted, or the figures squeezed in stone are very similar to Dagerotypes, and even the theater of the shadows that lived to the present day with deep antiquity.

Recall how we all have loved to play shadows of hands since childhood. Dagerotypes are easier perceived in profile. The ancient masters for templates used shadows discarded on the walls of the pyramids from the torch or the setting sun. Such technology markedly alleviated by the image of majestic giant figures. Therefore, artists were exclusively priests, the Egyptians of elite circles. Do not use the shadow of a despicable slave for the contours of the Divine.

Having mastered the equipment of Dagerotype, the Egyptians may have come on. How beautiful and naturally depicted movement on the frescoes. How do the skill of step transfer, directions? Did there be a forefined analogies with today's film distribution, cartoons or at least the same theater? Perhaps we do not all know about the time of the young pharaohs, their holidays reverence of deities and dedications. It is symbolic that the Gods of Egypt do not look in our face. Or we do not look at their faces.

4. Religious version

The illuminated world of ancient Egypt. | Photo: dv-gazeta.info.

According to another version, the Egyptians deliberately made the drawings of people two-dimensional, "flat". This is especially noticeable in the pictures where animals are present. Their ancient masters were colorfully discharged, giving realistic and elegant postures.

The ancient Egyptians with their worship of the afterlife believed that the soul of a person could travel. And since the drawings were mainly performed in tombs and tips, they could "revive" a three-dimensional picturesque image of a deceased person. In order to avoid this figure, people painted flat and profile. So the human face is more expressive and easier to portray it look like.

In order not to revive the image of the Jews went even further. They generally banned human images and therefore in the subsequent many Jewish artists (not all) painted people with distorted proportions. An example of a picture of Shagal. Subsequently, this ban from Jews borrowed Muslims.

Some versions of course intersect together, but what do you think most likely? Or do you know another version?