Who painted Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara?

Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara was painted by Antonio Beato in 1880.

Where can I see Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara?

Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara?

Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara

Antonio Beato , 1880

Statue of Ramesses at Saqqara is a photography by the Impressionist artist Antonio Beato. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1993.95
Credit line: Gift of Virginia M. Zabriskie

About this work

Overview

This photograph, attributed to Antonio Beato and dated around 1880, documents a fragmentary colossal statue of Ramesses II at Saqqara. The image captures the monument in a state of ruin, its massive torso and limbs lying horizontally, severed from its original context. Palm trees in the background provide scale, emphasizing the statue’s imposing dimensions despite its decay.

Subject & Meaning

The statue depicts Ramesses II, a pharaoh of Egypt’s Nineteenth Dynasty, though its head is absent in the photograph. Originally intended as a symbol of royal power and divine favor, the sculpture now conveys the passage of time and the fragility of human achievement. Its prone position underscores the contrast between ancient ambition and the inevitability of erosion.

Technique & Style

Beato’s photograph employs early photographic methods, likely albumen printing, to record the statue’s weathered surface and surviving hieroglyphic inscriptions. The composition juxtaposes the statue’s rough, pitted stone with the vertical lines of palm trees, creating a visual dialogue between artifact and environment. The image reflects the 19th-century interest in archaeological documentation.

History & Provenance

The photograph entered the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings on early archaeological photography. Created in the late 19th century, it preserves a moment in the history of Saqqara, an ancient necropolis south of Cairo. The statue itself predates the image by over three millennia.

Context

Saqqara served as a burial site for Egyptian elites and royalty, including the Step Pyramid of Djoser. By the 19th century, European travelers and photographers like Beato documented its ruins, contributing to the era’s fascination with Egyptology. This image captures the site before modern restoration efforts, offering insight into its condition during the colonial period.