Provisions from Nubia Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire

Art Historical Context

This vibrant facsimile captures a lively scene from the tomb ofhmire, a powerful vizier who served under pharaohs Thutmose III and Amenep II during Egypt's New Kingdom (Dynasty 18, ca. 1479–1425 B.C.). Painted on the tomb walls at Thebes, it depicts Nubian provisions—exotic goods like ivory, ebony, leopard skins, and playful monkeys—being meticulously stored in a temple granary. Such scenes highlight the empire's vast tribute system, showcasing Egypt's dominance over Nubia (modern Sudan) and the efficient bureaucracy that sustained its prosperity. Created by pioneering Egyptologist Nina de Garis Davies in the early 20th century, this tempera-on-paper copy is a precise 1:1 scale reproduction, preserving the original's bold outlines, flat colors, and hierarchical figures typical of ancient Egyptian art. Davies's meticulous technique allowed scholars and visitors to study these fragile wall paintings without risking damage. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this work reveals cultural exchanges across ancient Africa, where monkeys symbolized Nubian exoticism and status. It offers a window into Rekhmire's pride in his administrative role, blending daily life with imperial grandeur. (198 words)

About the Artist

Nina de Garis Davies · 1881–1965

Nina de Garis Davies, born Anna Macpherson Cummings on January 6, 1881, in Salonika, Greece, to English-Scottish parents Cecil J. Cummings and Sarah Macintosh Tannoch, showed early artistic talent as the eldest of three daughters. After her father's death in 1894, the family relocated to Scotland and then London, where she trained at the Slade School of Art. In 1906, at age 25, a holiday trip to E...