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Work of Art Details

Sesostris III

Description: Usually the sculptures of kings and queens have youthful, confident, contented, and even slightly smiling facial expressions. King Sesostris III broke dramatically with this tradition, and his face shows signs of age, concern, and discontent. He may have wished his sculptors to show him as the shepherd of his people, heavily burdened by his care for their needs and the duties of monarchy.

Among the most important ancient Egyptian sculptures in the collection, this statue is a classic representation of an Egyptian pharaoh. He is shown wearing the nemes head cloth (worn only by Egypt's monarchs) with a uraeus (protective serpent) at the brow, and a shendyit (pleated kilt). An unusual feature of this king's sculpture is the amulet suspended from a necklace.

Artist: Anonymous (Egyptian)
Created: 1872-1853 BC
Medium: granodiorite
Dimensions: 14 3/8 x 7 5/16 in. (36.5 x 18.5 cm)

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Middle Kingdom

Dynasty: late 12th Dynasty

Reign: Sesostris III (1872-1853/52 BC)

Country: Egypt

Provenance: Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Line: Acquired by Henry Walters, 1925
Accession No. 22.115