Drawing Source Material: Egyptian Artefacts

A collection of imagery and sources which you can use to prompt drawing in schools and community groups. 

Please note that this page contains links to external websites and has videos from external websites embedded. At the time of creating, AccessArt checked all links to ensure content is appropriate for teachers to access. However external websites and videos are updated and that is beyond our control. 

Please let us know if you find a 404 link, or if you feel content is no longer appropriate. 

We strongly recommend as part of good teaching practice that teachers watch all videos and visit all websites before sharing with a class. On occasion there may be elements of a video you would prefer not to show to your class and it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure content is appropriate. Many thanks. 

Egyptian Artefacts 

Use the film and imagery below to enable children to explore Egyptian artefacts. Try to create a sense of momentum – for example you might pause on an image or the video 4 times and ask the pupils to make a 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute and 4 minute drawing at each pause. 

Encourage close and slow looking by talking as they draw – use your voice to attract their attention to qualities of the artefacts.

Try the same exercise using different materials, ie handwriting pen, ink and nib, pastel, watercolour…

Explore the collections of Rijksmuseum van Oudheden here.

You can find lots of visual resources on Google Arts and Culture about preserving Egypt’s history.

Military Musicians Showing Nubian and Egyptian Styles Artist: Nina de Garis Davies (1881–1965) Dynasty 18 Reign: reign of Thutmose IV Date: ca. 1400–1390 B.C.

Military Musicians Showing Nubian and Egyptian Styles, Nina de Garis Davies (1881–1965), New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Thutmose IV, ca. 1400–1390 B.C. From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Sheikh Abd el-Qurna, Tomb of Tjeneny (TT 74) Tempera on paper, H. 44.5 × W. 93 cm (17 1/2 × 36 5/8 in.)  Rogers Fund, 1931

Watch the clip with the volume off as you guide children’s attention to parts of the paintings

Bronze statuette of Osiris Period: Late Dynastic-Hellenistic Date: 664–31 B.C. Culture: Egyptian Medium: Bronze Dimensions: H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) Classification: Bronzes Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76

Bronze statuette of Osiris, Late Dynastic-Hellenistic 664–31 B.C.  Egyptian Medium: Bronze Dimensions: H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) The Cesnola Collection, 1874–76

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: South Wall

Tomb Chapel of Raemkai: South Wall, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 5, ca. 2446–2389 B.C., From Egypt, Memphite Region, Saqqara, North of the Djoser pyramid complex, Mariette D3, Egyptian Antiquities Service/Quibell excavations, 1907–08, Limestone, paint, Rogers Fund, 1908

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/igWhAx2ruiw9lg

Take a virtual tour of the Tomb of Menna on Google Arts and Culture

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/BgVhbpZrGdGqxA

Deconstructing Ancient Egyptian Stelae on Google Arts and Culture

You May Also Like…

Pathway: working with shape and colour

This is featured in the 'Working with Shape and Colour' pathway

This is featured in the ‘Working with Shape and Colour’ pathway

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

Find out how pupils can respond to artists work in sketchbooks

Find out how pupils can respond to artists work in sketchbooks

Show me what you see

Enable close looking and drawing with this exercise

Enable close looking and drawing with this exercise