Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids Unstated edition by Metropolitan Museum Of Art (1999) Paperback

by James P. Allen

Published in conjunction with the 1999 exhibitions organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Reunion des musees nationaux, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Art experts examine the history of the Old Kingdom, the architecture of royal pyramid complexes and nonroyal tombs, statuary, reliefs, minor arts, and the history of excavations of Old Kingdom monuments. They also focus on individual works that illuminate a tradition that endured for 3,000 years. The texts are generously supported by 540 illustrations (420 in color) of plans, drawings, and reproductions of the works in the exhibition as well as comparative material.

Genres: Egypt, Nonfiction, History, Art, Ancient History, Art History

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

James P. Allen (Ph. D., Univ. of Chicago, 1981), Wilbour Prof. of Egyptology, Brown University, has published extensively on ancient Egyptian language, religion, and history.

Allen, James P., 1945-, Library of Congress Authorities

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catalog of an ambitious exhibition that was shown successively in Paris, New York and Toronto in 1999 and 2000. It was a real success and that is not surprising: the art of Ancient Egypt appeals to the imagination of the public. This book (and the exhibition) is limited to the art of the Old Kingdom, roughly the period 2600-2200 BCE, and focuses not only on the pyramids and tombs, but especially on sculptures and reliefs. And the Ancient Egyptians appear to have already achieved astonishing mastery in this. Not only does the book offer excellent introductory articles, but the catalog itself is - apart from the enormous number of works of art - also worthwhile because of the analysis offered of each work of art itself. This may be a bit too detailed for the layman, but for the enthusiast it is a delight!
A critical side note in my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
By the way, this book is downloadable (free) on the site of the MET.

[Sense of History]

A stunning book (see my review in my general account, here). But here I want to offer a general critical comment about our fascination with Ancient Egyptian culture. The most recent and in-depth synthesis of Ancient Egyptian history, in 3 parts, by John Romer (A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid,A History of Ancient Egypt, Volume 2: From the Great Pyramid to the Fall of the Middle Kingdom, A History of Ancient Egypt, Volume 3: From the Shepherd Kings to the End of the Theban Monarchy) argues that the culture of the Nile Valley essentially was a visual culture, much more so than others of the Ancient Near East. In other words, the buildings, sculptures and murals themselves express everything there is to say about Nile Valley culture. It is an attractive view, because it is indeed striking how much this culture produced what we now call 'works of art', and how spectacularly high the technical and artistic level was, even in the earliest period of the Old Kingdom (ca 2600-ca 2200 bce), which is the subject of this book. In popular studies this often results in comparative descriptions such as 'the first peak of human civilization', 'an original culture that cannot be compared with anything', etc.

As an historian I have to add a critical note here. Of course, the visual aspect cannot be ignored, I am not going to haggle on that. But Ancient Egyptian culture differs from other Near Eastern cultures (and by extension from early cultures on other continents) in that it pre-eminently used stone as a medium, both in architecture and in the visual arts. And, of course, stone is much less perishable than wood, textiles, papyrus or other mediums. I think we should factor this into our comparative equations. Could it be that other cultures have used such ephemeral materials much more than the Ancient Egyptians? And could it be that as a result much less 'art' from those other cultures has been preserved? So, could it be that – as a consequence - it only seems that the technical and artistic level of these other cultures was lower? I deliberately formulate this in the form of questions, because I know how difficult it is to make firm, let alone definitive, statements about that earliest period of human history. But perhaps it would behoove archaeologists and art historians to take these relativizing questions into account before venturing into jubilant comparative statements. Once again, this does not detract from the astonishing technical and artistic prowess of Ancient Egypt, as this book clearly shows.

[emanumela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ponderoso catalogo della mostra sull’antico regno tenutasi al Met. Questa mostra è stata un collettore di moltissimi reperti giunti da numerosi musei del mondo ed è fondamentale per avere una visione definitiva delle prime sei dinastie. Testi esaustivi e immagini stupende.

[Muhammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Allen’s Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids is a masterful exploration of the artistic achievements during one of ancient Egypt’s most iconic periods—the Old Kingdom, roughly spanning 2686 to 2181 BCE. Allen, a renowned Egyptologist, offers readers a richly illustrated and meticulously researched account of the art, architecture, and cultural context that defined this era, often called the "Age of the Pyramids."

The book excels in its ability to bring to life the grandeur and sophistication of Old Kingdom art, from the monumental pyramids and tombs to the intricate statues, reliefs, and everyday objects. Allen’s narrative is accessible yet scholarly, making it suitable for both general readers and specialists. He situates the art within the broader social, religious, and political frameworks, helping readers understand not just the aesthetics but also the symbolic meanings and functions of the works.

One of the book’s strengths is its use of high-quality photographs and detailed descriptions that allow readers to appreciate the craftsmanship and innovation of ancient Egyptian artists. Allen also addresses the challenges of preservation and interpretation, providing insights into how modern archaeology and technology have deepened our understanding of this ancient civilization.

Overall, Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids is an essential read for anyone interested in ancient Egypt, art history, or archaeology. It offers a compelling window into a civilization that laid the foundations for much of what we associate with ancient Egyptian culture.

The Old Kingdom of Egypt, often dated from about 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE, lasted approximately 500 years. This period saw the construction of the great pyramids, including the famous pyramids at Giza, and the flourishing of Egyptian art and centralized state power.

In contrast, the United States of America, founded in 1776 CE, is currently about 249 years old as of 2025. This means the Old Kingdom lasted roughly twice as long as the entire history of the United States to date. While the U.S. has undergone rapid development and change in a relatively short time, the Old Kingdom represents a remarkably stable and enduring era in human history, during which foundational cultural and artistic achievements were established.