Head of the Queen of Egypt

Kenyon Cox, Head of the Queen of Egypt, 1888, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Allyn Cox, 1983.31.23
Copied Kenyon Cox, Head of the Queen of Egypt, 1888, oil on canvas, 18 1815 in. (46.138.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Allyn Cox, 1983.31.23
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Artwork Details

Title
Head of the Queen of Egypt
Artist
Date
1888
Dimensions
18 1815 in. (46.138.2 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Allyn Cox
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Keywords
  • Occupation — other — aristocrat
  • Egyptian
  • Object — art object — sculpture
Object Number
1983.31.23

Artwork Description

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was still new when Kenyon Cox went there to study art from around the world. Without having to travel abroad, American artists could learn from examples of ancient sculpture in the Met’s collection of plaster casts. Cox copied an Egyptian portrait and, following the fashion for trompe l’oeil, or “fool the eye” painting, he created the illusion of paper tacked onto the sculpture’s base. His poem reads, “O Queen of Egypt with the lovely brow---Taya---thou smiled and to me it seems/The earth has owned before such smile; ‘Twas thou/Visitest Lionardo in his dreams.”