Tomb of Ti

Tomb of Ti

Some of the loveliest works of art I have ever seen are to be found at Saqqara, in the tombs of the nobles. The limestone walls are delicately incised with myriads of animals, fish, birds, insects, vegetation and people - hunting, herding and farming. 

Some of the forms still retain their original paint, after 4,500 years! The quality of these compositions demonstrates that the Egyptians had attained, at an early stage, an artistic culture of a very high order. 

Cattle Crossing (above) is an etching made from sketches done at Saqqara. The medium of etching - itself a process of erosion seems well suited to capturing the time worn quality of the relief carving.