A stunning granite head of a Pharaoh dating to the 18th Dynasty, possibly Tutankhamun or Thutmose III. The delicate and schematic facial features along with the indented smile allow to date this sculpture to the 18th Dynasty. These features were not meant to constitute a faithful resemblance of the physical appearance of the portrayed Pharaoh, but rather to recall images of earlier great rulers. Physical likeness was therefore ‘sublimated’ into an ideological and idealised portraiture, embodying the concept of power itself rather than the specific identity of the single ruler.

The figure is preserved from the chin up, the chin showing the remains of the fake beard which was a prerogative of Pharaohs. The king is represented wearing the ‘Nemes’, the headcloth typical of royal iconography. The nemes is crowned by an Uraeus, the stylised Egyptian cobra that iconographically represented the sovereignty, royalty, deity and divine authority of the Pharaoh. Cosmetic lines are well and plastically rendered, along with prominent brows. The ears are skilfully worked in relief, propped up by the nemes.
The artwork was executed with great care and skill by an artist who had probably seen repeatedly the Pharaoh. The delicateness of the features and the serene expression –yet filled with royal authority- showcase the artistic accomplishments of Egyptian art during the 18th Dynasty, one of the golden ages of the Ancient World. This is a sublime work of art, befitting the most important and renowned collections.

Dimensions given are exclusive of mounting.