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Submitted: November 26, 2012
Image Size: 6.0 MB
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The Death Mask of Tutankhamunby *Theophilia

Traditional Art / Paintings / People

The Death Mask of Tutankhamun
November 26th 2012
Watercolors
9 x 12 inches

Happy 90th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter! Well, technically this isn't the day it was discovered but rather the day it was opened, since Carter wanted to be sure that Lord Carnarvon (his financial backer) was there when the tomb was opened.

So this marks the day when, while chiseling through the doorway that had been closed for thousands of years, Lord Carnarvon asked "Can you see anything?" and Carter uttered those famous words:"Yes, wonderful things!"

So, to celebrate this little anniversary, I decided to do a little watercolor picture of the Death Mask of the Boy-Pharaoh himself.

Pharaoh Tutankhamun (1341-1323 B.C.) otherwise known as "King Tut" is now probably the most famous pharaoh because of the discovery of his tomb in 1922. The poor bloke came to the throne when he was 9 and died when he was 19 (and I remember that being a particular source of pride for me when I turned 20. "I've officially outlived Tutankhamun! Huzzah!")

Ancient Egypt was the first historical love of my little 5-year-old heart (at that age, the thing I wanted to be most of all when I grew up was an Egyptologist

), so I had to pay homage to that somehow, and it has been ages since I've done anything Egypt-related.

(unless you count that Templar staring at the pyramids

). As for the watercolor picture itself I am quite pleased with it. It came out very well, and that is due in no small way to the fact that I used a proper photographic reference instead of making junk up like I usually do.

Anyways, enjoy!

I put in the papyrus background via GIMP, since I thought that might be a bit more interesting than just a plain white background.

I used this for the Papyrus texture: [link]
And I used this picture as my reference: [link]

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~Achen089 Apr 7, 2013 Traditional Artist

Fantastic! From the thumbnail i thought it was a photograph!

Great work, especially the metallic and shiny parts.

=xShamelessAngels Apr 7, 2013

This work has been featured here: [link]

~Aranov Dec 12, 2012 Professional Artisan Crafter

Oooohhh that's GORGEOUS. I wanted to be an Egyptologist til middle school, when I realized just how much school I'd have to go through.

I still love learning about it, though, and it's fun being the resident expert on Ancient Egypt in almost any gathering, but when people use "hieroglyphic" as a noun, it makes my teeth itch. >_< ANYWAY wow this is gorgeous. When I saw the thumbnail, I couldn't tell it was watercolor, it looked so good. I really appreciate how the Egyptians were not afraid of color. Somehow this is magically not gaudy at all, even though something made of solid gold and caked with semiprecious stones SHOULD be. Lovelove.

*Theophilia Jan 17, 2013 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Thank you!! I've wanted to do the Great Death Mask for the longest time.

It just never gets old.

I wish I could just sit and read for hours and hours like I used to when I was a kid. I loved going to the library and getting out 40 books (not that they were really big or anything) at a time on Ancient Egypt and Rome.

Growing up blows sometimes. I feel like I learned way more from going to the library than I ever have in school.

"I really appreciate how the Egyptians were not afraid of color. Somehow this is magically not gaudy at all, even though something made of solid gold and caked with semiprecious stones SHOULD be. Lovelove."

You know, that's not something I ever thought of, but you're completely right, that's it exactly.

AGH. I wish I were as good with color. I have no idea what I'm doing half the time (no, that's too generous. I rarely if ever know what I'm doing with color.

). -__-

~Aranov Jan 17, 2013 Professional Artisan Crafter

Oh man yes. Not having internet at my apartment has been great because it means instead of sitting on the computer for hours, I actually sit and read instead. DEAR LOCAL LIBRARY HOW DO I LOVE THEE! I agree. Books are better to learn from for some things anyway. They have BIG glossy pictures of all the lovely things.

Oh sweetie, if that's true, you're really good at making things up. Heck, that's what art is about. You make up stuff, and then if people are like NUH-UH you can be all like YEAH-HUH BECAUSE I SAID SO. (Except for the guys who draw comic book women, because they have no understanding of anatomy or physics. But that's a pet peeve. <_<)

~nestle95 Dec 4, 2012 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

OMG! that lokks very realistic!

*Theophilia Dec 4, 2012 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Thanks!

~BohemianBeachcomber Nov 28, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Fantastic job! The way you did the gold is really impressive.

*Theophilia Nov 30, 2012 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Thank you! Photographs are certainly helpful in that area.

~BohemianBeachcomber Dec 3, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Yep!

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