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Facsimile painting from the tomb of Rekhmire by Nina M. Davies

Nina M. Davies · 1479-01-01

This striking work is a facsimile painting from the tomb of Rekhmire, meticulously copied by Egyptologist Nina M. Davies around 1479 BCE. It's not the original tomb painting, but a precise reproduction created to preserve the visual record of ancient Egyptian art.

Look closely at the figures and animals. You can see a man leading a leopard on a leash, another carrying a pole laden with various creatures, and even faint background figures suggesting a wider narrative. Davies's work captures the original style and even the aged appearance of the ancient source material.

Nina M. Davies, along with her husband Norman de Garis Davies, were dedicated illustrators who documented numerous ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. Their facsimiles were crucial for scholars and the public to study and appreciate art that was often inaccessible or deteriorating in situ. This reproduction allows us to see the intricate details of a scene from the New Kingdom.

It's a testament to the patient and essential work of art preservation. What details catch your eye most?

Details

This man carries a leopard on a leash.
This man carries a leopard on a leash.
Another figure brings a pole with various animals.
Another figure brings a pole with various animals.
She dedicated her life to documenting fragile art.
She dedicated her life to documenting fragile art.
His posture suggests a hunter returning with game, a common theme in tomb depictions of daily life and afterlife provisions.
His posture suggests a hunter returning with game, a common theme in tomb depictions of daily life and afterlife provisions.
Transcript

This looks like an ancient Egyptian painting. It's a facsimile, copied by hand from a tomb. This man carries a leopard on a leash. Another figure brings a pole with various animals. This precise copy was made by Nina M. Davies. She dedicated her life to documenting fragile art.