North Wall of Nakht's Offering Chapel
1909–1910; original ca. 1410–1370 B.C.
Medium
Tempera on paper
Dimensions
Framed: H. 158.8 cm (62 1/2 in.); w. 153.7 cm (60 1/2 in.); th. 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.) Scale: 1:1
Classification
Facsimile, TT 52, north wall, offering scenes, Nakht, Tawy
Period
Twentieth Century; original New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1915
Accession Number
15.5.19f
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of ancient Egypt with this full-scale facsimile of the *North Wall of Nakht Offering Chapel*, meticulously recreated by British artist Lancelot Crane 1909–1910 using tempera on paper. original paintings adorn the tomb chapel of Nakht, a high-ranking scribe and astronomer under Pharaohs like Thutmose IV or Amenhotep III (ca. 1410–1370 B.C.), in Luxor’s Theban necropolis. Dating to Egypt’s New Kingdom, Eighteenth Dynasty, these walls served a sacred purpose: ensuring eternal offerings and provisions for Nakht’s afterlife through vivid depictions of rituals, food bearers, and deities. Rendered at 1:1 scale (framed at 158.8 x 153.7 cm), Crane’s copy captures the hallmark Egyptian style—flat figures in profile, bold colors, and symbolic hierarchies—preserving techniques like mineral pigments on plaster that have endured millennia. These scenes, rich with Nile Valley bounty and priestly ceremonies, reflect profound cultural beliefs in *ka* (life force) sustenance and the ordered cosmos, blending daily life with divine eternity. Acquired via the Rogers Fund in 1915, this Twentieth-Century treasure in the Met’s Egyptian Art collection bridges eras, allowing us to marvel at New Kingdom artistry without venturing to Egypt. It underscores early conservation efforts, making pharaonic splendor accessible today.
About the Artist
Lancelot Crane · 1880–1918
**Lancelot Crane (1880–1918)** was a British artist and illustrator best known for his precise facsimiles of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. Born in Hammersmith, London, as the son of the prominent Arts and Crafts illustrator and designer Walter Crane, he grew up immersed in the artistic world. Crane studied at the Royal College of Art, where he earned an Associateship in 1905 and later a travel...