Harvest Scenes, Tomb of Menna

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of ancient Egypt with *Harvest Scenes from the Tomb of Menna a meticulous 1:1 scale created by Charles K. Wilkinson in tempera on paper. Dating to the New Kingdom's 18th Dynasty (ca 1400–1352 B.C.), these scenes originate from the Theban tomb of Menna, high-ranking scribe and overseer of fields under Pharaohs like Tuthmose IV. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through Rogers Fund in 193, this 20th-century reproduction preserves the original wall paintings' lively details, now housed in the Department of Egyptian Art. The artwork captures the rhythm of rural life, depicting laborers harvesting crops, tending fields, and possibly managing horses and chariots—hallmarks of Menna's status and the era's agricultural bounty. Ancient Egyptian artists used raised relief and paint (often in a secco technique) to create flat, symbolic figures with profile views, bold colors, and hierarchical scales, ensuring the tomb's provisions for the afterlife. These scenes weren't mere decoration; they magically sustained the deceased in eternity, reflecting Egypt's deep ties to the Nile's fertility and social order. Today, Wilkinson's facsimile offers an immersive glimpse into Dynasty 18 prosperity, bridging millennia for modern visitors. Measuring nearly two meters wide, it vividly revives a 3,500-year-old story of work, wealth, and worship.

About the Artist

Charles K. Wilkinson · 1897–1986

Charles K. Wilkinson (1897–1986), born Charles Kyrle Wilkinson in London on October 13, 1897, was the son of Horace W. Wilkinson, a stained-glass window maker, and Frances Adkins. Serving in World War I, he honed his artistic skills at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London, where the influential director Henry Tonks shaped the rigorous training of a generation of draughtsmen. In ...