Egypt Museum

Painter’s Palette

Painter's Palette
Painter’s Palette. Measurements: l. 17.5 cm (6 7/8 in.); w. 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in.); th. 0.9 cm (3/8 in.)
Metropolitan Museum of Art. 26.7.1294

This painter’s palette was carved from a single piece of ivory. Six oval wells contain cakes of pigments including blue, green, brown (?), yellow, red, and black.

The oval cartouche at one end encircles the throne name of Amenhotep III, Neb-Ma’at-Re, and the epithet “beloved of Re.” This could mean the palette belonged to an artist or scribe who worked for the king, or it belonged to the king himself, the former is more likely.

Discovered in Thebes, the palette was acquired by Lord Carnarvon, the man behind the funding of Howard Carter’s excavations that lead to the finding of the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV52), Amenhotep III’s grandson. A part of the Carnarvon Collection, the palette was given to the Met Museum in New York City by Lady Carnarvon in 1926.

Painter's Palette
Painter’s Palette. Now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 26.7.1294

Summary:

Ivory artist’s palette with pigment still present
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III, c. 1390–1352 B.C.
From Thebes. Acquired by Lord Carnarvon.
Now on display at the Met Museum. 26.7.1294

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