Nikare with his Wife and Daughter
Unknown Artist
ca. 2420–2389 B.C. or later
Medium
Limestone, paint
Dimensions
H. 57 cm (22 7/16 in.); W. 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.); D. 32.5 cm (12 13/16 in.)
Classification
Statue group, Nikare, wife, daughter
Period
Old Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1952
Accession Number
52.19
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This painted limestone sculpture, created during Egypt’s Old Kingdom (Dynasty 5, ca. 2420–2389 B.C. or later), portrays the official Nikare seated between his wife and young daughter. Such family group statues were commonly placed in tomb chapels, where they served as enduring homes for the deceased’s spirit, or ka, ensuring continued recognition and offerings in the afterlife. Carved from limestone and once brightly painted, the work reflects the period’s refined yet accessible artistic practices. Limestone was favored for non-royal commissions because it was readily available and could be s...