Old Kingdom Family Portrait

This seated limestone family portrait depicts a husband, wife and son. It dates from the 4th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, c. 2620-2500 B.C. The piece stands at 78cm tall and 48cm wide. It was once painted and traces of the paint still remains, including black, red and yellow pigments.

It was discovered by British artist, traveller, collector of antiquities, diplomat, and Egyptologist, Henry Salt and was registered into the Musée du Louvre’s inventory in 1826. The piece remains on display at the Musée du Louvre Museum to this very day.