Eternal Egypt : The Artist at Work

The Master Artist and Scribe

Most ancient Egyptians were illiterate and made their living through hard labor. Those who could read belonged to a rather privileged and powerful class of people employed in the scribal professions.

Because images and text were so closely intertwined in ancient Egypt, the majority of painters and sculptors also received training as scribes. Master artists supervised these students and directed the large teams of skilled craftsmen necessary to complete each statue, wall painting, and relief.

In addition, the master artist planned the details of a project, oversaw the production, and was held accountable for the quality of the finished work.

Continue to Schools for Scribes and Artists

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