| Ancient Egyptian Art is one of the most | | | | noticeable for their very formal, even rigid |
| recognized, admired and collected art in the | | | | stance and posture, but their faces are |
| history of the world. From delicate gold | | | | always serene, regardless of the scene in |
| jewelry to vivid paintings to massive statues | | | | which they are depicted. There were very |
| dozens of feet tall, for over 5,000 years | | | | strict rules about how a god or pharaoh could |
| Egyptian art has fascinated, delighted and | | | | be represented, which even included a |
| awed generation after generation with its | | | | prohibition against anything being drawn in |
| beauty, style and mystery. While genuine | | | | front of the face or body of the pharaoh, |
| ancient pieces of art are rare and extremely | | | | even when the scene depicted clearly required |
| valuable, modern Egyptian artists make | | | | it for any kind of realism. Realism was |
| beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by | | | | simply not a goal of ancient Egyptian Art. |
| some of the greatest recovered works from | | | | It is these very formal and stylized rules |
| ancient sites, and which adheres strictly to | | | | that have made Egyptian Art one of the most |
| the styles used by ancient artists. Jewelry | | | | widely recognized forms of art in the world. |
| in gold and silver with inlaid stones are | | | | |
| fashioned after pieces of jewelry recovered | | | | Over thousands of years Egyptian artists |
| from ancient tombs. Papyrus Paintings are | | | | adhered to this one style, which is quite |
| painted in vivid color on genuine papyrus, | | | | remarkable, especially as compared to the |
| made using the same principles developed | | | | extreme differences in art expression that |
| thousands of years ago on the banks of the | | | | have occurred in the modern world in just the |
| Nile, where the papyrus plant grows to this | | | | past 100 years or so. The only acknowledged |
| day. Paintings are executed in the style of | | | | variations are in the portrayals of animals |
| frontalism, one of the most striking | | | | and common people as compared to the more |
| characteristics of ancient Egyptian | | | | formal depictions of pharaohs and gods. As |
| Art.FrontalismFrontalism is the style in | | | | can be seen in many Egyptian paintings, |
| which every known piece of ancient Egyptian | | | | animals and common people or slaves are |
| art was produced. In paintings, the style of | | | | represented in a more natural manner, though |
| frontalism means that the head of the | | | | still within very strict and formulaic |
| character is drawn in profile, while the body | | | | rules.This frontalist style is the primary |
| is drawn from a front view. However, even | | | | reason why ancient Egyptian art is so easily |
| though the face is in profile, the eye is | | | | recognizable, and its appeal has lasted |
| drawn in full, as it would be seen from the | | | | through many centuries to this day.Ann M. |
| front. The legs always face the same | | | | Hession is the founder of Egyptian Artisans. |
| direction as the head, with one foot forward | | | | A graduate of Harvard University, Ms. |
| and one back.Ancient Egyptian figures, | | | | Hession has been fascinated by ancient |
| especially of gods and pharaohs, are | | | | Egyptian art and culture since high school. |