Module+10-11

=__**Amarna Art**__= At around 1350 B.C. Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhenaten, became the new king of Egypt. Akhenaten abandoned Thebes and established a new capital at El-Armana a couple hundred miles to the north. He also changed religious views, declaring Aton to be the sole god. Along with these changes during the reign of Akhenaten, changes started to develop in the artistic style. From the more traditional art (figure 1) to a more naturalistic style (figure 2). This new naturalistic art style was later known as Amarna art. When compared to the traditional art, Amarna art is more fluid and depicts things in a more realistic manner.

Stela of a Middle Kingdom official Abydos, Dynasty 12, ca. 1954 B.C. Painted limestone, 41 x 19 5 /8 in. Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1912 []

Akhenaten sacrificing a duck Dynasty 18, reign of Akhenaten (ca. 1349-1336 B.C.), ca. 1353-1336 B.C. Limestone, h. 9 5/8 in. Gift of Norbert Schimmel, 1985 []

These changes were all short lived. Akhenatens reign lasted less than twenty years. Under the reign of the new king, Tutankhamen, the capital returned to Thebes and the old dieties reinstated. The amarna style lasted a little longer, but by the end of Tutankhamens reign the traditional art style started to return.

Amarna Art in the Cleveland Museum John D. Cooney

[|The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art] Vol. 55, No. 1 (Jan., 1968), pp. 2-17 Published by: [|Cleveland Museum of Art] []

Robins, Gay 1994 Proportion and Style in Ancient Egyptian Art Chapter 6, Changes in the Amarna Period, pp 119-159