Hunting Scene, unknown maker from Egypt

Sheared from its original context, this fragmentary relief depicts ancient Egyptians amidst the bounty of the Nile River. In the lower register, three men balance on long-prowed boats, poised to spear fish gathered in the still water. Above, hunters capture geese in marshland grasses, grasping the animals by their feathered wings and slender necks. Once adorning walls of lavish tombs, narrative scenes like this one were especially coveted by purveyors of ancient art. By removing only the carved surfaces from their architectural substrates, antiquarians were better able to share them with eager European audiences.