Egypt: 4000 Years of Art [Hardcover]

Jaromir Malek (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

The land that is now Egypt nurtured an extraordinary pioneering civilization - one of the oldest, most powerful, long-lasting and technically accomplished cultures the world has ever known. Over the millennia its achievements have never lost their power to amaze - and justly so, for the Egyptian architects and craftsmen produced some of the greatest masterpieces of world art. This book presents a carefully chosen selection of the finest works of art and architecture produced over a period of some 4000 years, from about 4000BC, when the first sophisticated works of art began to be made, to 200AD, when Egypt was a province of the Roman Empire and the old traditions had all but died out. Egyptian art is usually instantly recognizable and its basic formulas remained unchanged for thousands of years, yet at the same time it was remarkably varied in size, medium, subject-matter and type of object, ranging in size from the monumental pyramids and temples to the tiniest and most delicate pieces of jewellery, and embracing painting, sculpture, metalwork, woodwork, textiles and ceramics. At whatever scale, the art has an immediate appeal for its beauty and consummate craftsmanship, and the works illustrated in this book, all of the highest quality, can be enjoyed for their aesthetic qualities alone. They are also products of a culture very different from ours, and in his concise introduction Jaromir Malek provides the essential background for understanding why Egyptian art took the forms it did. The explanations continue in the informative captions to each illustration, and the chronological chart, map, bibliography and index provide quick reference. The works illustrated in "Egypt: 4000 Years of Art" are all masterpieces that can be enjoyed in their own right. Presented in strict chronological order, they also form a succinct history of the subject that will be a valuable resource for students and teachers. For all readers it will provide a fresh and beautiful introduction to some of the most remarkable art ever produced.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr Jaromir Malek is Keeper of the Archive at the Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, and editor of the Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts. As one of the foremost authorities on ancient Egyptian art and culture, he is in a unique position to create an authoritative introduction to the subject. His books include Egyptian Art (Phaidon, 1999). Author's Residence: Oxford, UK

Product Details

• Hardcover: 376 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714842001
• ISBN-13: 978-0714842004
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4000 Years of Art, July 24, 2005

By 

G.Reed (Somewhere in Utah...) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Egypt: 4000 Years of Art (Hardcover)

This book is a masterpiece. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of full color illustrations on glossy, high quality paper, this volume makes it easy for one to be lost in the glory of a civilization extinct for two thousand years. Never before has Egypt's splendor been put into one book. Jaromir Malek's insightful and scholarly commentary helps one truly anaylze the works of Egypt

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Egypt by Malek, January 2, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Egypt: 4000 Years of Art (Hardcover)

This is an excellent work which covers many priceless artworks
dating back several millenia or more. Examples of artwork
include Jousting Boatmen, a pentagonal bowl, the dagger of
Princess Iti, Birds in an Acacia Tree,a ring with horses circa
1200 BC, a mummification scene and a bull with 7 celestial cows.
Each illustration is in full color. The book is valuable
for Egyptologists and a wide constituency of scholars interested
in Ancient Egypt and its artifacts.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Egypt by Malek, January 2, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Egypt: 4000 Years of Art (Hardcover)

This is an excellent work which covers many priceless artworks
dating back several millenia or more. Examples of artwork
include Jousting Boatmen, a pentagonal bowl, the dagger of
Princess Iti, Birds in an Acacia Tree,a ringwith horses circa
1200 BC, a mummification scene and a bull with 7 celestial cows.
Each illustration is in full color. The book is valuable
for Egyptologists and a wide constituency of scholars interested
in Ancient Egypt and its artifacts.