Two Fragments of Ceiling Patterns, Tomb of Senenmut

Nina M. Davies's Two Fragments of Ceiling Patterns from the Tomb of Senenmut are documentary paintings created by the British Egyptologist-artist who specialized in precise facsimile copies of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. Nina Davies worked alongside her husband Norman de Garis Davies in the early twentieth century, creating careful color records of Egyptian tomb paintings before their further deterioration. These ceiling pattern fragments from the tomb of Senenmut, the powerful official of Queen Hatshepsut, document the sophisticated geometric decorative programs of New Kingdom Egyptian tomb art.

Tempera technique, reflecting earlier traditions, the work demonstrates Nina M. Davies's skilled technique and careful observation. The composition is carefully structured to balance visual elements, while the handling of light and color creates atmospheric coherence across the picture surface.