Ceiling on the North Side of the Transverse Hall of Nakht's Offering Chapel

Art Historical Context

This stunning facsimile captures the vibrant ceiling from the north side of the Transverse Hall in offering chapel of Nakht's tomb (TT52) in Luxor's Theban necropolis. Dating to Egypt's New Kingdom, Dynasty 18 (ca. 1410–1370 B.C.), the original artwork adorned the tomb of Nakht, a-ranking scribe and astronomer who served under pharaohs like Thutm IV. Such ceilings in elite tombs often featured intricate patterns symbolizing the eternal sky, protecting the deceased's spirit in the afterlife and reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs in cosmic order and divine protection. Created between 1908 and 1910 by pioneering Egyptologist Norman de Garis Davies, this 1:1 scale tempera-on-paper replica meticulously preserves the faded original's colors and details using water-based pigments for authenticity. Davies and his wife Nina worked for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian Expedition, producing these copies to document tomb art before inevitable deterioration. Framed at over 70 inches wide, it offers visitors a vivid window into ancient techniques like flat perspectives and symbolic motifs. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1915, this piece highlights the Met's commitment to safeguarding Egypt's artistic heritage, bridging 3,500 years of history for modern audiences.

About the Artist

Norman de Garis Davies · 1865–1941

Norman de Garis Davies (1865–1941) was a British Egyptologist and archaeological artist whose meticulous copies of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings constitute one of the most important records of pharaonic art ever made. Born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, he originally trained for the ministry before being drawn into Egyptology through his involvement with the Egypt Exploration Fund in the 1890...