Patel 1

Vipul Patel

Dr. Worley

Art History 1303

16 September 2008

Seated Scribe

During the years of the Old Kingdom (2575-2150 BCE), Egyptian sculptors produced

figures not only of kings but also of less well-known people (Stokstad 61). In addition, the period

style of Egyptian sculptures during this time consisted of forms that were compact, solid, and

blocklike, expressing a feeling of strength and permanence (Stokstad 59). A good example of a

sculpture that meets both of these criteria is the Seated Scribe, dating back to approximately

2450-2325 BCE during the early Fifth Dynasty (Stokstad 61). On 19 November 1850, French

archaeologist Auguste Mariette (The Seated Scribe) found this figure near the tomb of Kai, a

government official, in Saqqara (Stokstad 61). However, it is currently located at the Louvre

Museum in Paris (The Seated Scribe).

The Seated Scribe presents a man, dressed in a white kilt up to his knees, sitting down

with his legs crossed (The Seated Scribe). He is holding a papyrus scroll, partially unrolled onto

his lap, in his left hand (Stokstad 62). In addition, his right hand is holding a now-lost reed pen

(Stokstad 62). Volume-wise, the dimensions of this figure are: a height of about 53 cm, a width

of 44 cm, and a depth of approximately 35 cm (The Seated Scribe). Furthermore, the sculptor

uses the expressionism abstract style, which refers to the “exaggeration of form to appeal to the

beholder’s subjective response” (Stokstad xxviii), by creating a flabby body for the scribe, who

presumably lacks intense physical activity from writing and copying text all day. Moreover, this

painted limestone figure has a round head and face, an alert expression, and a cap of close-
 Patel 2

cropped hair (Stokstad 61). The technique applied may have been the carving and then painting

of the limestone. The yellow-orange hue utilized on the skin of the scribe creates a human

appearance. Likewise, the dark-color painted irises, eyebrows, and hair add a more

comprehensive facial aspect to the statue. The eyes are modeled out of pieces of “red-veined

white magnesite, which were elaborately inlaid with pieces of polished truncated rock crystal”

(The Seated Scribe). On the back of the crystal, a layer of organic material “gives the color to the

iris and serves as an adhesive” (The Seated Scribe). The pupils are slightly off-center, giving the

eyes the illusion of being in motion (Stokstad 62). Each eye is held in place by two copper clips,

and his nipples are made from wooden stubs (The Seated Scribe). Overall, the sculptor used

mixed mediums (Stokstad xxviii) and a great deal of effort in creating this detailed work. The

Seated Scribe is a fantastic sculpture, and it serves as a great example of the huge

accomplishments in Egyptian art during its time.

 Patel 3

Bibliography

“The Seated Scribe.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 18 May 2008. Wikipedia. 6 September

2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Seated_Scribe>.