Egyptian Art

by Cyril Aldred

"His eloquent ability to weave facts, insights and interpretations into a compulsively readable account sets his book far above the clogged texts that too often pass for art history."― The Times Educational Supplement Of the ancient art that has survived from the non-Classical world, that of Egypt makes a unique appeal. In this authoritative and splendidly illustrated guide Cyril Aldred surveys nearly 3000 years of Egyptian art and architecture, concentrating on the fine arts of painting and sculpture. 199 illustrations, 20 in color

Genres: Art, History, Egypt, Nonfiction, Egyptology, Art History, Reference

252 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Cyril Aldred was a British Egyptologist, art historian and author. He also served as the Keeper of Art and Archaeology for the Royal Scottish Museum.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the introduction:Manetho, the learnéd High Priest in Heliopolis who was commissioned by Ptolemy I in the third century BC to write a history of Egypt, divided into thirty-one dynasties the entire chronicle of events, from the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under Menes, the first pharaoh, to the conquest of Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

This is a lovely book for an Egyptophile such as I and, for me, is a reference book and one to catch snippets of every so often. We went to Berlin just to catch a glimpse of the original Nefertiti bust(page 150) that can only be (sadly) copied in Egypt since it was stolentaken.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Nice (mostly black-and-white) illustrations.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Egyptian Art seems to us static and unchanging over the centuries from the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom.
When thoroughly reading Cyril Adred's Egyptian Art this view will be differentiated. Although not always easy to read Aldred provides the reader with an short historical overview of the sequential pharaohs and their reign, but he compares their reigns with the art in relief, fresco's in tombs, temples, and statues that are remaining in museums all over the world. By comparing the objects made in different time periods the reader learns a lot about the craftsmanship of masons and the stone cutters. He becomes aware of the high quality of the objects and the particular differences in the long period the pharaohs reigned.

I gave the book a 4-star only because it's a pity that the majority of the illustrations are in b/w. Colored illustrations would have made book even more valuable.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good survey. Useful.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this as a text in an art history class over 15 years ago. very well illustrated, reads a bit clunky in places, but a good overview.

[D.J. Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit small and a bit black and white (a book on art ought to have huge color plates), and now a bit dated. Still, pretty great.

[James F · Rating 3 out of 5]

A volume in the Thames & Hudson World of Art series. Good description, unfortunately most of the illustrations are in black in white.