Winemaking, Tomb of Ipuy

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of ancient Egypt with *Winemaking, from the Tomb of Ipuy*, a 1:1 scale facsimile created by Charles K. Wilkinson around 1930. Dating to the New Kingdom's Ramesside period (. 1279–1213 B.C., Dynasty 19), this tempera-on-paper reproduction captures a lively wall painting from the tomb of Ipuy, showcasing men energetically crushing grapes and producing wine—a staple of Egyptian daily life and elite banquets. In Egyptian tomb art, such scenes of viticulture and labor served profound purposes: ensuring the deceased's eternal provision in the afterlife while celebrating the Nile Valley's agricultural bounty. The detailed figures, tools, and processes highlight the skill of anonymous ancient artists, who used mineral pigments on plaster for enduring color. Tags like "Grapes," "Wine," "Men Working," and "Love-Poetry" evoke a scene rich with sensory joy, possibly accompanied by poetic inscriptions praising the fruit's allure. Acquired via the Rogers Fund and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Art department, Wilkinson's facsimile preserves these fragile originals for modern eyes, bridging 3,200 years of history with striking realism. A testament to Egypt's cultural reverence for wine as both sustenance and symbol of vitality.

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 ...