Cleveland Museum of Art

Paint Box of Vizier Amenemope

Date

c. 1427–1401 BCE

Medium

boxwood with inscription inlaid in Egyptian blue

Culture

Egypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep II (1425–1400 BCE)

Department

Egyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This paint box still preserves its original cakes of pigment: one cake each of red (red ochre), blue (Egyptian blue), green (a mixture of Egyptian blue, yellow ochre, and orpiment) and two of black (carbon black, from charcoal). It belonged to Amenemope, who was vizier, or prime minister, under Amenhotep II. Amenemope probably used his paint box for recreation. Painting was a popular and time-honored pastime among the upper classes in Egypt.

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