Statue of Sehetepibreankh

The Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh is a notable example of Middle Kingdom Egyptian sculpture, dating to approximately 1919–1885 B.C. during the reign of Amenemhat II. This limestone statue was excavated in 1923–24 from Pit 6L.P19 in the tomb of Sehetepibreankh at Lisht South, located in the Memphite region of Egypt.

The statue exemplifies the most common type of human representation from the early Middle Kingdom. Its design closely follows royal prototypes, indicating that Sehetepibreankh, though not a king, was depicted in a manner befitting high officials who served as true delegates of the king. This stylistic choice underscores his esteemed position and the importance of his service.

In ancient Egypt, it was believed that the ka, the individual’s vital energy or personality, survived death and could reside in an image, particularly a statue, that preserved an idealized and unchanging version of the individual’s features.

The Seated Statue of the Steward Sehetepibreankh was likely placed in an above-ground chapel within his tomb, serving as a focal point for family and friends to bring offerings and prayers, thereby ensuring his presence in the afterlife.

The statue is currently housed in the Egyptian Art collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (24.1.45) in New York, where it is on view in Gallery 110.