The King with Isis, Tomb of Haremhab

Art Historical Context

This striking facsimile captures a scene from the tomb of Pharaoh Horemheb, who ruled at the close of Egypt’s Eighteenth Dynasty around 1323–1295 B.C. Created by artist Lancelot Crane between 1910 and 1911, the tempera-on-paper copy preserves a moment in which the king stands before the goddess Isis. Hieroglyphic inscriptions accompany the figures, reflecting the sacred texts and protective spells that adorned New Kingdom royal tombs to ensure the pharaoh’s safe passage into the afterlife. Crane’s meticulous reproduction, now in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, exemplifies early twentieth-century efforts to document Egypt’s vanishing wall paintings before further deterioration. Working at actual size, he used tempera to recreate the original’s precise line work and balanced color palette, allowing modern viewers to appreciate the formal elegance of Egyptian figural conventions—idealized profiles, symbolic gestures, and harmonious proportions—that conveyed both royal power and divine favor. Beyond its documentary value, the facsimile highlights the enduring cultural importance of Isis as a nurturing protector of kings. By bringing this ancient composition into a museum frame, Crane’s work bridges more than three millennia, inviting visitors to connect with the spiritual beliefs and artistic sophistication of the New Kingdom.