Ancient Egyptian Painter Left Behind His Palette and The Paint Has Survived!

When compared to later, more naturalistic Classical art of the Greeks and Romans, ancient Egyptian art has been described as blocky, static, abstract, and formal. But that doesn’t mean that the ancient Egyptians didn’t value artistic creations, their art was just meant to serve different purposes.

One of the best examples of this alternative perspective on art is seen in the reliefs, statues, and other artifacts that have been unearthed in tombs. This art may be stunning to look at today, but it wasn’t actually meant to be viewed by modern eyes – it was created to benefit the deceased or divine beings.

Egyptian painted tomb (Vladimir Melnik / Adobe Stock)

The art was still created with a great deal of interest and effort. Painters held special roles in presenting and preserving the story of the deceased. Tomb paintings generally followed consistent rules, such as using grids to create the best proportions.