NEW KINGDOM, 18TH DYNASTY, REIGN OF AMENHOTEP III, 1390-1352 B.C.

This portrait depicts a youthful Amenhotep III wearing a striped nemes headcloth fronted by a uraeus that rises up from a broad band at the forehead. The angle of the tail of the nemes indicates that this head likely comes from a sphinx. His eyes are shown fully banded with extended cosmetic lines and conforming arching brows above. His smiling mouth is indented at the corners and displays the characteristic thicker upper lip. Only partially preserved is a short chin beard. For another sphinx head of Amenhotep III, with which the present example may once have been paired, see fig. 23 in B. Bothmer, “Eyes and Iconography in the Splendid Century: King Amenhotep III and His Aftermath,” in L.M. Berman, The Art of Amenhotep III: Art Historical Analysis. For a discussion of Amenhotep III's portraiture see pp. 125-153 in B.M. Bryan, "Royal and Divine Statuary" in A.P. Kozloff, L. Berman and B.M. Bryan, eds., Egypt's Dazzling Sun.