Egyptian Art (Art and Ideas) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Written by British curator Malek (In the Shadow of the Pyramids: Egypt During the Old Kingdom), Egyptian Art is another in Phaidon's solid "Art & Ideas" series. It follows the tradition of other titles in The other three titles were published to coincide with the international traveling exhibition "Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramid," seen recently at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA). When the Pyramids Were Built is a streamlined version of the official catalog. With no index, it will not be a first choice for reference, but Arnold (the curator of the Egyptian department at MOMA) provides a well-written and very accessible text. Its readability, combined with the quality of the photographs and the modest price, makes this an excellent purchase for most public libraries. The 25 internationally respected Egyptologists who contributed to Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids provide a valuable look at recent developments in the field. In particular, the redating of many artifacts results in a very different view of the artistic trends of the period. The profuse illustrations vary in quality, but their sheer number, added to the high-level scholarship of the text and the three detailed indexes (general, sites, and owners of the artifacts), makes this an important book for all academic and most medium and large public libraries. Egyptian Treasures from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo covers a much greater time span than the other three titles. The text, written by a virtual who's who in Egyptology, is a bit uneven--as is usually the case with so many authors. However, all of the text is comprehensible, and some of it (such as the argument that Tutankhamun was not murdered) is fascinating. Unfortunately, there is no index, but the layout is chronological, giving some hope of finding specific artifacts. The real treasure of the book lies in Araldo De Luca's stunning photographs. Often, De Luca sees with his camera's eye things that few visitors would notice. The book's large trim allows for many life-size illustrations, and at all times the illustrations do justice to a phenomenal collection. Highly recommended for all academic and most public libraries.
-Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Ancient Egyptian art has an enduring fascination. From the geometrical precision of the great pyramids at Giza to the golden treasures found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, the products of the Egyptian civilization attract and intrigue. Far from being art work in the modern sense, they represent the concrete expression of a profound belief in the primacy of the Egyptian way of life and the continuation of the spirit in the afterlife. This comprehensive book traces Egyptian art from its origins in prehistoric times through the supreme achievements of the pharaohs to the Roman period. Placing the works of art in their historical, geographical and spiritual context, Jaromir Malek seeks to create a more complete and realistic view of this fascinating culture. Beyond the period of ancient Egyptian art itself, Malek traces the history of Egyptology and looks at the influence of Egypt on modern art, a topic which has so far been almost completely ignored. Through its wealth of illustrations, this book reveals the immense variety and superb quality of the objects and buildings that have survived from ancient Egypt.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (July 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714836273
• ISBN-13: 978-0714836270
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #152,603 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise introduction to Egyptian art by an expert, December 19, 2000

By	J. Martin (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Jaromir MALEK. 1999. _Egyptian Art_. London: Phaidon Press. Pp. 447 with appendices, glossary, map and photographs. ISBN 0-7148-3627-3 (hb).

This book by Egyptologist Jaromir Malek is a concise, affordable introduction to Egyptian art in ten compact chapters, each one of which is a self-contained essay. Malek begins with an ethnographic description of the ancient land and discussions of art and architecture in paleolithic and dynastic times. His text follows the standard chronology of Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. Separate chapters cover the Amarna interlude, Egypt under the Greeks and Romans and how Egyptian themes and images have been perceived and presented in Western art in the recent past.

Malek presents his synthesis of design and meaning through discussing numerous photographs gracing the text. But, he clearly separates the didactic and rhetorical use of design conventions from historical events and social life. He writes "...the artistic record should not be taken as a comprehensive statement about the mentality or daily preoccupations of the Egyptians" (p. 21). The Egyptians created their art primarily "...as a carrier of ideas" (p. 61) for the state and for religious institutions and used it to fulfill political and ritual functions. Little was created solely for its value as design or image.

_Egyptian Art_ is not a social history of Egypt, but Malek carefully places the evolution of design elements (hieroglyphics, images) and objects (statues, temples, tombs) in sequences based on dynastic dates. He briefly explains the rationale of important conventions and design choices; examples are why a human body is depicted in frontal view while a face is profiled, why a right arm may be attached to a left shoulder, and why color and cardinal direction are important compositional elements. The book, however, is not a monograph on canonical design rules or belief systems expressed in art. Malek wisely does not clutter the text with explanations of hieroglyphics and how to read them; they are treated as elements in a structural ensemble.

This book is a clear and thoughtful introduction to ancient Egyptian art by a specialist whose text speaks of experience and balanced judgment. Extensively illustrated, the book is a measured treatment of this technical subject and rewards patient reading. General readers and beginning students will like it. Notes on further reading are keyed to each chapter. A glossary, lists of deities and kings, a timeline and a map provide useful reference tools. To his credit, Malek does not wrestle with fantastic claims made by some students of ancient Egypt; he graciously dismisses them.

Both author and publisher faced trade-offs in bringing an affordable and useful book to market. The historical scope leaves scant room to completely explore pieces and buildings and the smallish page size diminishes the visual detail and impact of the plates. Nonetheless, this compact introduction to the stylistic and iconological evolution of Egyptian art is handsome and worthy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most accessible book on the subject, August 8, 2004

By	W. Dynes (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For about twenty years I have taught a college course in Egyptian art, experimenting with various textbooks. Malek is a recognized authority in the field. He also knows how to write clearly. His selection of objects is excellent. All in all, I would say that this is the best book to start with. It is also very sound in its judgments.