Butchering Scenes, Tomb of Prince Mentuemhat
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Period
- Late Period, 664–332 BCE
- Date
- c.680–650 BCE
- Material
- Limestone
- excavated in
- Luxor, Qina governorate, Egypt, Africa
- Classification
- Sculpture, stone & mineral
- Collection
- Ancient Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 313
- Dimensions
- overall, both sections, framed: 66 7/8 x 16 in. (169.8 x 40.6 cm)
first section, actual: 15 1/8 x 21 3/16 in. (38.4 x 53.8 cm)
second section, actual: 14 1/4 x 43 7/8 in. (36.2 x 111.4 cm) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 1:1958.1,.2
NOTES
Mentuemhat, mayor of Thebes, adorned his tomb with views of daily life, including this depiction of butchering. These wall decorations ensured Mentuemhat would have sufficient food in the afterlife. Look for the animals’ legs tied up as the workers prepare to butcher the beasts. The artist(s) who composed this scene drew inspiration from similar images dating back to the Old and New Kingdoms. This work is carved in relief, resulting in figures sunken below the surrounding stone’s surface. This technique creates a sharp outline around the figures. Although these two fragments are mounted together, they come from different sections of Mentuemhat’s tomb.
Provenance
c.1891
Excavated from a tomb in the Asasif Valley near Deir-el-Bahri, Egypt [1]
by 1957 - 1958
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mallon, New York, NY, USA [2]
1958 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mallon [3]
Notes:
[1] It seems the reliefs were uncovered sometime between 1885, when archeologist Auguste Eisenlohr cleared out part of the chamber from which they were taken and 1891 when Vincent Scheil published a precise description and illustration of the reliefs [Leclant, Jean. "Montouemhat: quatrième prophète d'Amon, prince de la ville." Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1961, p. 175-176; Scheil, Vincent. "Le tombeau de Montou-m-hat." In "Tombeaux thébains de Mai, des Graveurs, Ratéserkasenb, Pari, Djanni, Apoui, Montou-m-hat, Aba," 613-23, pls.1-2. Paris: n.p., 1891].
[2] A letter from John D. Cooney dated January 9, 1957 indicates that the reliefs were in the possession of the Mallons when Cooney examined them a few days before he wrote letter [SLAM document files].
[3] The bill of sale, dated March 5, 1958, lists Mrs. M. Mallon as the seller. A handwritten invoice, dated January 15, 1958 confirms that Mrs. M. Mallon and Mrs. Paul Mallon are the same person [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control and the Advisory Committee of the City Art Museum, January 9, 1958.
Excavated from a tomb in the Asasif Valley near Deir-el-Bahri, Egypt [1]
by 1957 - 1958
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mallon, New York, NY, USA [2]
1958 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mallon [3]
Notes:
[1] It seems the reliefs were uncovered sometime between 1885, when archeologist Auguste Eisenlohr cleared out part of the chamber from which they were taken and 1891 when Vincent Scheil published a precise description and illustration of the reliefs [Leclant, Jean. "Montouemhat: quatrième prophète d'Amon, prince de la ville." Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, 1961, p. 175-176; Scheil, Vincent. "Le tombeau de Montou-m-hat." In "Tombeaux thébains de Mai, des Graveurs, Ratéserkasenb, Pari, Djanni, Apoui, Montou-m-hat, Aba," 613-23, pls.1-2. Paris: n.p., 1891].
[2] A letter from John D. Cooney dated January 9, 1957 indicates that the reliefs were in the possession of the Mallons when Cooney examined them a few days before he wrote letter [SLAM document files].
[3] The bill of sale, dated March 5, 1958, lists Mrs. M. Mallon as the seller. A handwritten invoice, dated January 15, 1958 confirms that Mrs. M. Mallon and Mrs. Paul Mallon are the same person [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control and the Advisory Committee of the City Art Museum, January 9, 1958.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.