The Pharoah's Gift; and The Queen's Offering

Émile-Louis Picault (1833-1915) trained under the Dutch sculptor Louis Royer and exhibited a wide range of works at the Paris Salons between 1863 and 1909. His 'Orientalist' subjects are some of his most popular works and follow in the tradition of ethnographic-based artwork in France during the second half of the nineteenth century.
The male figure is traditionally identified as Pharoh Menthuophis, ruler of Egypt, who was murdered circa 2200 B.C. He was succeeded by Queen Nitocris, the second figure, who was believed to be either his wife or his sister. According to legend, her six year reign witnessed two important events: the completion of the third pyramid, and the dramatic revenge exacted upon the murderers of Menthuophis. Seeking to avenge the Pharoh's death, the Queen organised a banquet for the accomplices in an underground chamber she had specially constructed for the event. At the height of the feasting, Nitocris suddenly flooded the chambers with water brought from the Nile by means of a concealed pipe. Everyone drowned except for Nitocris, who escaped only to take her life in an ash pit rather than face punishment from the remaining conspirators.