Funerary Provisions and Hunting, Tomb of Djari

Art Historical Context

This ink-on-paper facsimile captures scenes from the Tomb of Djari, a high official buried near Thebes during Egypt’s Dynasty 11 (ca. 2050–2000 B.C.). Created at one-third scale by an unknown copyist, the drawing records lively vignettes of funerary offerings and hunting expeditions, including boats navigating the Nile and figures engaged in provisioning activities. Such images originally adorned the tomb’s walls, ensuring the deceased would enjoy eternal sustenance and recreation in the afterlife. Dating to the transition between the First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom, Djari’s tomb reflects a time when regional governors asserted greater artistic independence while still honoring age-old Egyptian beliefs. The boats and human figures evoke both practical river life and symbolic journeys to the afterlife, common motifs meant to magically activate provisions for the tomb owner. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in 1931, this scaled copy allows modern viewers to appreciate the tomb’s original painted details without traveling to the fragile archaeological site. It highlights how ancient Egyptian artists used clear outlines and balanced compositions to convey abundance and order, principles central to their funerary art.