Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 10: Nefertiti Bust

by Thutmose


story image

    Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 10: Nefertiti Bust

by Thutmose

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

  • Examine the artwork.
  • Read the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Recite the artist and artwork names.
  • Read about the art region or artist.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The Nefertiti Bust is a sculpture of Nefertiti, wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. The ancient Egyptian Thutmose created the bust out of limestone, coated it with stucco, and then painted the details over the stucco. Quartz and beeswax were also used to make the bust. Nefertiti wears a flowered collar around her neck and a blue crown decorated with a cobra. Due to the popularity of the bust, Nefertiti serves as an icon of ancient Egyptian feminine beauty. The Nefertiti Bust is currently on display in Germany, however some believe it should be repatriated to Egypt.

Vocabulary

Bust: A sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.
Sculpture: The art of making two- or three-dimensional representative or abstract forms, especially by carving stone or wood or by casting metal or plaster.
Pharaoh: A ruler in ancient Egypt.
Ancient: Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
Egyptian: Relating to Egypt or its people.
Limestone: A hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement.
Stucco: Fine plaster used for coating wall surfaces or molding into architectural decorations.
Repatriated: Send someone or something back to their / its original country.

Concepts

  1. Experts believe that the ancient Egyptian artist Thutmose created the Nefertiti Bust, as it was found in his studio.
  2. 'Ancient Egyptian art is the painting, sculpture, architecture and other arts produced by the civilization of ancient Egypt in the lower Nile Valley from about 3000 BC to 30 AD.' (Wikipedia.org)
  3. Egypt is a country in North Eastern Africa. Study the shape of Egypt on the map below.
  4. Zoom in and find Egypt on the map of Africa below.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Study the Sculpture Materials

  • Limestone
  • Stucco (Spread Over Brick)
  • Quartz
  • Beeswax

Activity 2: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

  • Cobra
  • Blue Crown
  • Flowered Collar
  • Bust
  • Nefertiti

Activity 3: Narrate the Artwork

  • After studying the sculpture, describe it aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Complete Vocabulary Activities

  • While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
  • Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

  • Click the crayon above, and complete page 18 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

What type of sculpture is featured in the lesson?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The sculpture type is a bust, or sculpture of a head, neck, and upper shoulders.
1 / 4

Question 2

Who is featured in the sculpture?
2 / 4

Answer 2

Nefertiti, wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, is featured in the sculpture.
2 / 4

Question 3

What materials were used to make the sculpture?
3 / 4

Answer 3

Limestone, stucco, paint, quartz, and beeswax were used to create the bust.
3 / 4

Question 4

On which continent is Egypt?
4 / 4

Answer 4

Egypt is on the continent of Africa.
4 / 4

  1. What type of sculpture is featured in the lesson? The sculpture type is a bust, or sculpture of a head, neck, and upper shoulders.
  2. Who is featured in the sculpture? Nefertiti, wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, is featured in the sculpture.
  3. What materials were used to make the sculpture? Limestone, stucco, paint, quartz, and beeswax were used to create the bust.
  4. On which continent is Egypt? Egypt is on the continent of Africa.

References

  1. 'Nefertiti Bust.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.