Egyptian sculpture

52 EGYPTIAN SCULPTURE

the surface; the line of the collar-bone also is indicated but not emphasised. The neck and throat, usually so slurred by the later sculptors, has received the same careful study. The arms indicate a strong, muscular man, the hands are clenched, the right is laid across the body, the left rests on the left knee. As is usual with Egyptian statues, the lower part of the figure is not so well proportioned as the upper part of the body, though it is chiefly the ankles and feet which give the impression of careless or unconsidered work. It must however be noted that the toes are well spread apart, as those of a man who has never worn shoes. The face is a fine piece of portraiture, and represents a man of not less than thirty; a man in the full vigour of manhood but beyond his first youth—strong, energetic, and accustomed to rule. The eyes should be specially noted; they are set well under the brows as was usual in the best work of the period, though the technique of the inlaid eye causes the fossa to be too elongated towards the nose. The eye itself is formed of an outer frame of copper, in which is set a piece of polished white limestone representing the white of the eye, and the iris consists of clear quartz painted at the back; the polished surface of the quartz reflects the light almost like the living eye. The mouth is full, with full lips, the edge of the lip showing the sharp edge already noticed in the IInd dynasty; the chin is rounded; the nose is slightly aquiline; and there are indications on the forehead of the wrinkles of a frown. The ear, although rather too large, is set in the right place, ie. on a level with the nose. The hair is cut quite short and the man wears a moustache; there is no indication of a false beard. The figure has been painted dark red, with black hair and moustache. The costume consists of a white loin-cloth, and round the neck is an amulet tied with a white cord.