Artwork
Carpenters at Work, Tomb of Rekhmire
Carpenters at Work, Tomb of Rekhmire is an unspecified painting by Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nina M.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on men using physical tools, such as adzes, saws, and mallets, to craft objects like furniture or architectural elements.
The Carpenters at Work from the Tomb of Rekhmire (TT 100) depicts a detailed scene of artisans engaged in woodworking tasks. The iconography centers on men using physical tools, such as adzes, saws, and mallets, to craft objects like furniture or architectural elements. These tools and actions symbolize the specialized labor essential to New Kingdom Egypt's economy and religious life, as carpentry supplied items for temples, tombs, and daily use.
The work represents the broader ideological framework of Ma'at, where skilled craftsmanship ensured order and harmony. By immortalizing these artisans, the tomb's decoration underscores Rekhmire's role as a patron of industry and reinforces the social hierarchy, positioning manual labor as a dignified contribution to the state's prosperity.
History & Provenance
This is a facsimile painting created by Nina M. Davies, reproducing scenes from the Tomb of Rekhmire (TT 100), an ancient Egyptian tomb in the Theban necropolis. The original tomb belonged to Rekhmire, a vizier during the reign of Thutmose III in the 18th Dynasty. Davies produced the facsimile as part of a broader project to document Egyptian tomb paintings through accurate reproduction. The facsimile is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 35.101.1.
Overview
Nina M. Davies, an Egyptologist and illustrator, created Carpenters at Work, Tomb of Rekhmire as a detailed record of an ancient Egyptian wall painting. This work captures a scene of manual labor, showing several men engaged in carpentry tasks using various tools. It forms part of a significant body of work by Davies and her husband, Norman de Garis Davies, dedicated to meticulously documenting the art found within Egyptian tombs during the early to mid-twentieth century.
Technique & Style
As an illustrator tasked with documentation, Nina M. Davies rendered the scene with precision, aiming to faithfully reproduce the original tomb painting from Rekhmire's burial site. Her approach emphasizes clarity and detail, allowing for a clear understanding of the tools and techniques employed by the ancient artisans. The light background and distinct figures ensure that the activities and interactions of the carpenters remain the central focus, reflecting a commitment to accurate visual record-keeping.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Egyptologists Nina M. Davies (6 January 1881 – 21 April 1965) and Norman de Garis Davies (1865–5 November 1941) were a married couple of illustrators and copyists who worked in the early and mid-twentieth century…
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