Images from Ancient Egypt
Do you have pictures of people who are important to you or objects that help you remember your ancestors and family? In ancient Egypt, some people asked artists to represent them on a stela so the living would remember them after their deaths. A stela is a flat slab of stone made to commemorate an important person or event.
This stela was made for someone known as Iuef-er-bak over three thousand years ago. He is represented by the figure on the far right. His wife Nebet-iunet and his two sons stand behind him. Seven other family members are seated below. How does the stela compare to the family portraits you have seen?
Look at how the figures stand. Their eyes and shoulders are shown from the front and their heads and lower bodies are shown in profile. Most ancient Egyptian artists thought this was the best way to provide a complete view of the human body. The artist also made some figures big and some small to show which are most important. Which figures do you think are most important?
This stela is more than an image of Iuef-er-bak and his family. It was probably made for the necropolis (city of the dead) of Western Thebes where it would have been placed in a tomb. The ancient Egyptians believed in providing provisions for the afterlife. They brought food, drink, furniture, and clothing for the deceased. Most stelae were made to remind the living to take offerings to their ancestors and deceased family members. In this stela, Iuef-er-bak and his sons bring offerings of flowers to a funeral banquet held in his honor.
You can see this stela in the ancient Egyptian art gallery on the third floor of the Ahmanson Building at LACMA.
Search Collections Online for more works of art from ancient Egypt.
Egypt, Thebes
Round-Topped Stela, Mid-18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, circa 1391–1353 BCE
Limestone, 26 3/4 x 17 1/4 in. (67.95 x 43.82 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by Phil Berg
(AC1999.2.1)
Photo © 2009 Museum Associates / LACMA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Phil Berg
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Welcome to Artwork of the Month! Visit this page every month to explore a new treasure from LACMA's extensive collections.
Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.
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