Artwork
Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy
Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Nina M. Davies. It dates from 1396 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a coffin being transported through a processional parade, accompanied by figures including men and women who participate in the rites.
The artwork depicts a funeral procession within the context of the Tomb of Pairy (TT 139), illustrating a ceremonial parade central to ancient Egyptian mortuary practices. The composition features a coffin being transported through a processional parade, accompanied by figures including men and women who participate in the rites. Created as a facsimile by Nina de Garis Davies, the work captures the specific iconography of a funeral event, emphasizing the communal and ritualistic nature of the journey for the deceased.
The scene represents the structured observance of death and the transition of the soul, highlighting the roles of mourners and the central placement of the coffin within the ceremonial order.
History & Provenance
Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy is a facsimile painting by Nina M. Davies dated to 1390. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 35.101.3. It documents the funerary procession associated with the Theban Tomb designated TT 139, belonging to Pairy.
The painting is catalogued as a facsimile rather than an original ancient artifact, indicating it was produced as a documentary reproduction of the tomb's decoration. The inception date of 1390 corresponds to the modern creation of the facsimile rather than the date of the original tomb it records.
The facsimile painting titled Funeral Procession, created by Nina de Garis Davies to depict the funeral scene from the Tomb of Pairy (TT 139), is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is cataloged under the accession number 35.101.3. While the original tomb scenes date to approximately 1390 BCE, this specific painted reproduction was produced by the artist for documentation purposes.
The piece is classified as a painting and forms part of the museum's holdings related to ancient Egyptian art. No specific exhibition history or prior provenance details regarding its transfer to the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
This painting, titled Funeral Procession, Tomb of Pairy, was created by Egyptologist and illustrator Nina M. Davies. It documents a scene from an ancient Egyptian tomb, likely dating to approximately 1396 BCE. The work depicts a ceremonial funeral procession, capturing the rituals and beliefs surrounding death in ancient Egypt. It is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Davies' rendering employs a clear, organized visual approach, characteristic of ancient Egyptian art. Figures are arranged in two distinct rows, depicted with bright, flat colors and a stiff, side-by-side posture. The composition includes hieroglyph-like symbols near some participants, further integrating the visual language of the original tomb. This style emphasizes clarity and narrative rather than naturalistic representation.
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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