<em>Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman</em>, 1352–1332 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 7/8 x 21 3/4 in. (22.6 x 55.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.197.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.197.7_transpc004.jpg)

Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman, 1352–1332 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 7/8 x 21 3/4 in. (22.6 x 55.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.197.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.197.7_transpc004.jpg)

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What is the cultural significance of the "Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman"?

The cultural significance comes in more with the whole image. This is only a fragment of a relief that would have shown the whole body. Based on the life-sized scale and the lines behind her feet that indicate a long, fine garment, the figure would have likely been that of Queen Nefertiti. So, during the reign of her husband, Akhenaten, this image would have been significant as an image of the reigning queen who had both political and religious power. As you may know, Akhenaten changed the official religion in Egypt and his changes were abandoned and even erased after his death. Many images of Nefertiti suffered as well. Her image would have been a reminder of "the heretic king."

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Why are the feet like this during the Amarna period?

What's unique about these feet is that they are depicted like real feet, a right and a left. In most ancient Egyptian art people are painted with two of the same feet, so you always see the inside of the foot because they thought that was the most characteristic view of the foot.

In the Amarna period, artists in royal workshops showed a new interest in more realistic representations rather than just "hieroglyph" views of the body. It's because of the presence of all five toes and the long pleated dress in the background that we know these feet belong to a royal woman from this time, likely Nefertiti.

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Why do the feet in the “Relief of Akhty-hotep” show only the arches?

Akhty-hotep's two left feet were a common feature of ancient Egyptian art. The ancient Egyptians were more interested in completeness and communication rather than realism.

Ancient Egyptians felt that this angle, showing the arch, was the most descriptive angle to show a foot and therefore rendered all two dimensional feet in this way.

If you take a look at the "Royal Feet" in the Amarna Period gallery, you'll notice that the royal woman is shown with two different feet, a unique feature of art during that time period.

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These feet are remarkable in ancient Egyptian art. It was typical to show people (in two dimensions) with two of the same foot rather than two different feet like we see here. This unique detail was something only applied to royal figures during the Amarna Period.

Interestingly, this block was not found at the city of Amarna though. It was found across the Nile at Hermopolis where it had been taken to be reused in temple construction under Ramesses II (the Great).

Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

Traditional Egyptian relief rendered both feet as seen from the inside, with the big toe closer to the viewer. In the Eighteenth Dynasty, however, artists began to experiment with more accurate representations, first in tomb painting and then in sculpture and relief. This relief, representing all five toes of the right foot, is one of the first examples of a break with the earlier tradition.

The standardized shape of the block and the realistic modeling are characteristic of the Amarna period. While several royal women of Amarna wore floor-length pleated garments like these, the life-size scale points to Queen Nefertiti as the owner of these feet.

MEDIUM Limestone, pigment

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Place made: Tell el-Amarna, Egypt
Place excavated: Hermopolis Magna (Al-Ashmunayn), Egypt

DATES 1352–1332 B.C.E.

DYNASTY late Dynasty 18

PERIOD New Kingdom, Amarna Period

DIMENSIONS 8 7/8 x 21 3/4 in. (22.6 x 55.3 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 60.197.7

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

PROVENANCE Probably from Amarna, reused inside the pylon of Ramesses II at Hermopolis Magna, Egypt; 1939, in situ; by 1960, acquired by Michel Abemayor of New York, NY; 1960, purchased from Michel Abemayor by the Brooklyn Museum.

Provenance FAQ

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Limestone relief. In raised relief, facing right the sandaled feet of a royal figure, most probably female. Feet correctly drawn with all toes of the near foot indicated. In the background, the folds of a transparent linen dress. Figure was life size. Condition: Relief broken vertically through center. Original paint in crevice on back of right leg, on base of right foot, and all along toes of same foot; also on ankle of right foot, sandal strap and along edges of foot. Scattered remains of dress show it too was red. Lower right corner broken.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Amarna Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman, 1352–1332 B.C.E. Limestone, pigment, 8 7/8 x 21 3/4 in. (22.6 x 55.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 60.197.7. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 60.197.7_transpc004.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 60.197.7_transpc004.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What is the cultural significance of the "Relief of Sandaled Feet of a Royal Woman"?

Thank you!

Why are the feet like this during the Amarna period?

Thank you!

Why do the feet in the “Relief of Akhty-hotep” show only the arches?

Akhty-hotep's two left feet were a common feature of ancient Egyptian art. The ancient Egyptians were more interested in completeness and communication rather than realism.

Ancient Egyptians felt that this angle, showing the arch, was the most descriptive angle to show a foot and therefore rendered all two dimensional feet in this way.

If you take a look at the "Royal Feet" in the Amarna Period gallery, you'll notice that the royal woman is shown with two different feet, a unique feature of art during that time period.

Tell me more.