Thutmose (sculptor)

Infobox Artist
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name = Thutmose


imagesize = 250px
caption = Thutmose's bust of Nefertiti, on display at the Altes Museum Berlin
birthname =
birthdate = 14th Century B.C.
location = Akhetaton
deathdate =
deathplace =
nationality = Egyptian
field = Sculpture
training =
movement = Amarna art
works = Polychrome bust of Nefertiti
patrons = Pharaoh Akhenaten
influenced by =
influenced =
awards = "The King's Favourite and Master of Works, the Sculptor Thutmose" (also spelled Djhutmose and Thutmosis) is thought to have been the official court sculptor of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten in the latter part of his reign. A German archaeological expedition digging in Akhenaten's deserted city of Akhetaton, at Amarna, found a ruined house and studio complex (labeled P47.1-3) during its 1912 excavations; the building was identified as that of Thutmose based on an ivory horse blinker found in a rubbish pit in the courtyard inscribed with his name and job title. [Reeves, Nicholas. Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet. p.157. Thames & Hudson. 2005. ISBN 0-500-285527] Since it gave his occupation as "sculptor" and the building was clearly a sculpture workshop, it seemed a logical connection.

Among many other sculptural items recovered at the same time was the polychrome bust of Nefertiti, apparently a master study for others to copy, which was found on the floor of a storeroom. In addition to this now famous bust were a number of plaster casts that have been identified as representing various members of the royal family and their entourage, including Akhenaten, his other wife Kiya, his late father Amenhotep III, his eventual successor Ay and others.

Examples of his work recovered from his abandoned studio can be viewed at the Ägyptisches Museum Berlin, the Cairo Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

=Gallery of

Footnotes

Bibliography

* Cyril Aldred, "Akhenaten: King of Egypt" (Thames and Hudson, 1988), pp. 59.
* Rita E. Freed, Yvonne J. Markowitz, Sue H. D'Auria, "Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten - Nefertiti - Tutankhamen" (Museum of Fine Arts, 1999), pp. 123-126.