Head of Ankhkhonsu
Egyptian Late Period, Dynasties 26 or later, 664–525 B.C. B.C.E.
Greywacke, H x W x D: 19.5 x 18.5 x 15 cm (7 11/16 x 7 5/16 x 5 7/8 in.)
Emily Esther Sears Fund 1904, MFA #04.1841
Photo ©Joan Ann Lansberry, 2014
"Two basic trends may be distinguished in Late Period portraiture: idealizing and nonidealizing. They existed side by side. The subjects of idealizing portraits appear youthful, while nonidealizing portraits show them as mature or even aged. The beautifully carved head of Ankhkhonsu exemplifies the idealizing approach in Late Period sculpture. The face is youthful and serene, without line or blemish. The nose, which is preserved intact, is fine and straight. After being identified in 1979 as belonging with one of the headless block statues in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, the inscriptions on the statue provided the subject's name, Ankhkhonsu." (Info from museum website)