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Ancient Egyptian art was one influence that Gum used in her interpretation of an Art Deco design she painted c.1931-33 on a Czech Epiag brand plate, signed M. Gum. Although more widely known for her watercolors of gum trees, as art teacher at Wilderness School, Adelaide, Gum was an excellent drawing and design teacher. Egyptian art was highly symbolic. The Egyptian sculptor used clay, wood, metal, ivory, and stone. Egyptian art was highly symbolic and a painting or sculpture was not meant to be a record of a momentary impression. Apparent differences were the result of subtle changes, not an altered conception of art or its role in society.” You will find subject matter covered other than sculpture but it all ties together nicely.

Egyptian art was also still important in the funerary domain. In the first century AD stelae were still being produced with Egyptian style relief. Egyptian art was very delicate and beautiful. Ancient Egyptian art was generally very formal, and presented an idealised version of the subject matter which often encompassed many layers of meaning. When depicting people, traditional art stuck closely to strict guidelines and depicted people in formal poses. Another great resource on this can be found at this blog on History Gifts.

Ancient Egyptian art was essentially a symbolic language with a prescribed vocabulary capable of being read as directly as Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was not the role of the sculptor to invent variations on that language, but to learn its rules and apply them.

Egyptian art was influenced by several factors, including the Nile River, the two kingdoms (the Upper in the south and the Lower in the north), agriculture and hunting, animals, the heavens, the pharaohs and gods, and religious beliefs. Religion was one of the major patrons of Egyptian art throughout its three-millennium history. Ancient Egyptian art was dedicated to preserving the body for the afterlife, a vital reason as to why artists drew from memory, based according to strict rules set by their culture.

A great online resource for anyone interested in hand-crafted and painted Egyptian Art replicas and artifacts that make for stunning home decor or amazing gift ideas can visit this site filled with Museum Replicas.