Art and iconography of ancient Egyptian textiles. Coauthor Abigaëlle Richard for: "Coptic textiles of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts"
In 2007-2008, I had the opportunity, as a doctorate researcher, to do an internship at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), as assistant curator for Dr. John M. Fossey curator of the “Archaeology and World Cultures” collection now "Arts Of One World".
During this internship, I participated in the research and iconographical analysis of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' (MMFA) collection of Egyptian Coptic textiles, in order to produce a catalogue in collaboration with Dr. Wendy Landry and Anne-Laure Rameau, Dr. Beaudoin Caron and Dr. John M. Fossey.
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Collection of Mediterranean Antiquities, Vol. 4: The Coptic Textile series:
Monumenta Graeca et Romana, Volume: 24
This catalogue of the Coptic Textiles in the Collection of Mediterranean Antiquities at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts provides a detailed analysis of 64 textiles from both historical and weaving practice points of view. This approach provides a fuller understanding of the cultural situation in which such textiles were produced and circulated. Dr. Landry’s experience of over 40 years of weaving and scholarship highlights the elements of knowledge and skill held and applied by weavers in Antiquity.
This perspective complements and expands on the focus on imagery usually provided by art historians regarding textiles of this period. This catalogue shows how much more cultural information can be accessed when the technical, economic, and practical character of both production and use are adequately integrated into the study of material artefacts.
In 2011, I submitted my Ph.D. thesis in French at the Université de Montréal. The topic of this research was an iconographical analysis of ancient Egyptian artwork, in the form of faience blue marsh-bowls (Nun bowls) in New Kingdom tombs and in the temple of the goddess Hathor. A full version of the text in available in the form of a free ebook (see below), while a basic English translation of the introductory text can be found here.
"Votive representations for "the lady of life". Iconographical analysis of faience bowls of the Egyptian New Kingdom."
"This study’s research question raises the issue of the paradoxical nature of the Egyptian canon of representation which shows, simultaneously, a certain rigidity in the application of established stylistic and iconographic rules, especially in non-state commissioned art, and evidence for the transformation and integration of new iconographical motifs. The study aims to identify the mechanisms by which the canon permits, at the same time, transformative processes and the maintenance of tradition. The approach is twofold and consists primarily in identifying trends and stylistic/iconographical discontinuities in the iconography found on the faience bowls from the Middle to the New Kingdoms. Furthermore, it aims to determine if the socio-political and ideological transformations taking place in these periods can be discerned in the stylistic and iconographical variations found on the bowls of the Middle to the New Kingdoms. The author discusses the theoretical model of “representation” in Egyptian context, followed by an analysis of what constitutes the major contribution of this study: an exhaustive iconographical analysis of 500 faience bowls and fragments originating from various Egyptian sites dating to the New Kingdom. The data was evaluated by means of the method of iconological analysis proposed by Panofsky, which permits the identification of a number of stylistic and iconographic continuities and changes for all periods. These transformations seem to be the result of a variety of factors, including fluctuations in the centralization and decentralization of the state, as well as the integration of foreign motifs (Near-Eastern and Aegean), which results from increased contacts between Egypt and its neighbouring regions. Furthermore, the ideological transformations taking place under Akhenaten’s reign and the ones resulting from the ideological “counter-reformation” occurring during the Ramessid period, equally seem to contribute to the changes in the representational canon, even though the latter maintained a certain continuity that was legitimized by the state. The canon thus emerges as a form of language used by the state, and sometimes despite it, which can fluctuate and be altered depending on the realities of the different periods."
(2011) Abigaëlle Richard. "Votive representations for "the lady of life". Iconographical analysis of faience bowls of the Egyptian New Kingdom", Ph.D. thesis, Montreal: Université de Montréal, 444 p., cxxxvi.
(2011) Abigaëlle Richard. Représentations votives pour la « Dame de Vie ». Analyse iconographique des bols de faïence du Nouvel Empire égyptien, thèse de doctorat, Montréal: Université de Montréal, 444 p., cxxxvi.
Download the free ebook in French:
Download the dissertation defense presentation in French:
In 2010 (August 6th), while I was doing my doctorate (Ph.D.) research, I had the opportunity to offer a presentation on Ancient Egyptian art, iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt at the Art History department of the Cegep du Vieux Montréal in Montreal. You can download the free presentation in French below and here is basic English translation of the introductory text for the presentation.
Iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt
"The objective of the conference is to present, after a brief historical context of Pharaonic Egypt, the canon of representation used in the representation of this ancient culture, while explaining the symbolic and ideological role linked to the iconography."
(August 16th 2010) Abigaëlle Richard, Iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt, presentation at the art history department of the CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, Montreal.
(16 Août 2010) Abigaëlle Richard, Iconographie et canon de représentation de l'Égypte pharaonique, conférence au départment d'histoire de l'art du CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, Montréal.
Download the free presentation in French: