Ancient Egyptian Art History | Overview and Characteristics

Get a clear picture of what Ancient Egyptian art history is all about and its characteristics. From tombs, to reliefs, and more, the art from Ancient Egypt tells an incredible story of religion, kings, and an advanced society.

In this video, I cover the main characteristics and themes within the five main periods of Ancient Egyptian art history, along with analysis of famous artworks (often taught in art history classes) from each of these periods:

1. Pre-Dynastic - Palette of Narmer
2. Old Kingdom - Statue of Kafre Enthroned and The Seated Scribe
3. Middle Kingdom - Statue of Senusret III
4. New Kingdom - Statue of Akhenaten
5. Late Period and beyond - Mummy Egyptian portraits

Video Outline:

0:00 - Intro to Ancient Egyptian Art
1:54 - Ancient Egyptian art Themes
3:49 - Early Dynastic Period
4:28 - Canon Developed
6:54 - Palette of Narmer Analysis
12:01 - Old Kingdom Period
13:05 - Kafre Enthroned Analysis
18:17 - The Seated Scribe Analysis
19:57 - Middle Kingdom Period
20:30 - Senusret III Analysis
21:19 - New Kingdom Period
24:00 - Statue of Akhanaten
27:23 - Late Period and Beyond

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#AncientEgyptianArt #EgyptianArtHistory #ArtHistoryWithAlder

CREDITS

All photos found on Wikimedia

License links:

Attributions:
Profile statue of Kafre photograph (Djehouty, CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Seated Scribe photograph (Rama, CC BY-SA 3.0 FR)
Statue of Senusret III (Captmondo, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut photograph (Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Akhenaten statue (Ismoon, CC BY-SA 2.5)
King Tut mask (Firebrace, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ramses II statue (Pbuergler, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Giza pyramids photograph (Ricardo Liberato, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Luxor temple unification of Egypt relief (Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0)
Queen Cleopatra (Eslam17, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Tomb of Ramses in Valley of the Kings photograph (Tim Adams, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Ancient Egypt map (Jeff Dahl, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Catacombs photograph (Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0)

*All other images used are in the public domain or have been given permission

[ArtHistorywithAlder]

What is your favorite time period, artwork, or pharaoh from Ancient Egyptian Art?!

[pearlharbor]

Thank you. I never had the money or opportunity for a higher education. Now I'm 60 and have the time to learn new things. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so freely.

[sgo]

Hi Alder. I've been struggling with depression for years and your channel has became the source of relaxation and salvation. Thank you very much for this

[rosario_penaloza]

Your explanation is very easy to understand. You teach better than my professor. I really enjoy this video. Thank you!!!

[SierraVA]

What a succinct and well spoken introduction to Ancient Egyptian Art. I truly appreciate your work, Mrs. Alder! I want to mention that I had searched 'ancient egyptian art' on YouTube, and your video was the first result. So thank you for your service, it was exactly what I was looking for.

[Boro]

I just found your channel and im so sorry to see you dont post videos anymore, you re really good

[homagebackup]

I love your videos! I hope you keep making more in the future someday <3 I've taken classes and you really have been helping solidify/organize the information in my head. I'd love to see more ancient art, Roman and Greek. And Neolithic & Paleolithic!

[thinginground]

Egyptian art isn't my favourite in the way it looks, but it really calls to me for some reason. My favourite ancient civilisation.

Also a question: Will you be making a video on surrealism art form like Picasso or Salvador Dali?

[lordsofanime]

Much easier then having to read it all as I perfer to listen like an audiobook. Gets me through the class.

[revrevreviews]

This is a great video! Very educational. I didn't know much about Ancient Egyptian Art History so this was very helpful. I usually review Contemporary Art but it is important to know a bit more about Art history! Thanks for uploading.

[gamalnassertv]

Love your enthusiasm, this was very educational, thank you! Great overview!

[gabriellebernard]

Its very evident that you have great passion with what you speak. Also you have a lovely voice with excellent dicition.

[sudiptopal]

One part I disagree with. It is wrong to call Mummy Portrait arts to be Christian Influenced. It was predominantly Roman art, influence coming from Pagan Roman arts with many pagan Egyptian influences. The concept of Christian art didn't start until the end of the 2nd century CE, and these portraits are older than that period. In fact, these portraits later influenced the Christian arts, especially the wood panel paintings of St Catherine monastery of Sinai, Egypt.

[farabihaquetroye]

hey, I'm hoping You'll upload a new video soon. It wil be helpful if you make a Video on Asian art history.

[ultraali]

Some researchers think that Atenhotep or his followers were responsible for the migration of the samite people from Egypt after his death.
Was Moses really Amenhotep or one of his followers who left after the pharaoh's death? Ancient Egyptians used to circumcise their young boys, another cultural similarity.

[MikeScott-eziw]

I know people who visit the museums in Egypt and told me that the mummies were pure African people the art and statues and writing language is of pure African people I look online and noticed that the mummies were African people not Egyptian and Mediterranean dark 🌑 skin bs 💯 true facts

[neon-kitty]

The history of ancient Egyptian art really didn't "conclude" with Alexander's conquest. Traditional ancient Egyptian art and architecture continued to evolve and flourish under the Ptolemies and, to some extent, under the Romans. Also Akhenaten's new capital was called Akhetaten, not Akhenaten. He did not name it after himself. He also didn't change the name of any god. Aten was an existing god before Akhenaten took over.

[MikeScott-eziw]

I know people who visit the museums in Egypt and told me that the mummies were pure African people the art and statues and writing language is of pure African people I look online and noticed that the mummies were pure African people not Egyptian and Mediterranean dark 🌑 skin bs
💯 true facts

[MikeScott-eziw]

Fake 🤥 News 📰
Egypt is in Africa 🌍 it was known as kemet civilization not Egyptian civilization period 💯 true facts

[MikeScott-eziw]

Sit 🪑 down 👇 little girl read a book 📚 Egypt is in Africa 🌍 it was known as kemet civilization its African art not Egyptian art period
💯 true facts