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Egyptian Art

Code: 100575
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Art History OB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Annabel Villalonga Gordaliza
Email :
annabel.villalonga@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Heri Abruña Marti

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

 

There are not any prerequisites, but it is advisable to have some notions of English and French in order to be able to consult the specialised bibliography.

 

Objectives

 

The aim of this subject is to provide an approach to Ancient Egyptian art.

Having finished the course, the student should be able to:

  1. Recognise, characterise and identify the functions of the most important works of art.
  2. Place them correctly in their historical and cultural context.
  3. Master the terminology and vocabulary of the course.
  4. Interpret the iconography and symbolism of the works of art.

 

 

Learning outcomes

  1. Applying the iconographic knowledge to the reading of artistic imagery.
  2. Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon in a given cultural context.
  3. Analysing the creators of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  4. Analysing the recipients of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  5. Connecting an artistic imagery with other cultural phenomena within its period.
  6. Reconstructing the artistic outlook of a particular cultural context.
  7. Identifying the artistic imagery, placing it into its cultural context.
  8. Accurately defining and explaining an artistic object with the specific language of art criticism.
  9. Examining an artistic imagery and distinguishing its formal, iconographic and symbolic values.
  10. Distinguishing the elaboration techniques and processes of an artistic object.
  11. Explaining the reception mechanisms of a work of art.
  12. Efficiently presenting knowledge in oral and written form.
  13. Point out the formal, iconographic and symbolic values of an artistic image from classical antiquity.
  14. Explain the mechanisms of reception of an ancient work of art.
  15. Identify and explain scenes, motifs, gods and other mythical characters on the basis of their artistic representations throughout antiquity.
  16. Encouraging creativity and fomenting innovative ideas.
  17. Working in teams, respecting the other's points of view and designing collaboration strategies.

Contents

 


 


1. An introduction to Egyptian art.


2.  The Predynastic Period.


3.  The Early Dynastic Period (dyns. I-II). 


4.  The Old Kingdom (dyns. III-VI). 


5.  The Middle Kingdom (second half of dyn. XI-dyn. XII). 


6.  The New Kingdom (dyns. XVIII-XX). 

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Attendance to Theoretical and Practical classes 45 1.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Methodological and bibliographical orientation 6 0.24 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Personal study and preparation for exams 68 2.72
Complementary reading 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11

 

 

Theoretical and practial lectures with visual supports.

Critical analysis of images.

Occasional conferences.

Methodological and bibliographical orientation.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Reading Test 2 20% 6.5 0.26 6, 7, 9
Reading Test 1 20% 6.5 0.26 6, 7, 9
Exam 1 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Exam 2 30% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Continuous assessment

Activity 1: Exam 1 (30%).

Activity 2: Exam 2 (30%).

Activity 3: Reading test 1 (20%).

Activity 4: Reading test 2 (20%).


On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

Students will obtain a “Not assessed/Not submitted” course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.

Only students who have failed the course, have completed at least two-thirds of the total assessment activities, and have obtained a final grade of at least 3.5/10 will be eligible to take the resit assessment, which will be held on the date established by the Faculty Academic Office. The resit assessment will cover the content of the two examinations only; the two reading quizzes are not eligible for resit.


Exchange students: Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.


Single assessment

Exam 1 (30%) + Exam 2 (30%) + Reading test 1 (20%) + Reading test 2 (20%).

* Review: it follows the same procedure as continous assessment.

* Not assessed/Not submitted: the same criteria as continuous assessment will be used.

* Reassessment: the same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.


Academic misconduct

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Use of AI

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be consideredacademic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.


Bibliography

ALDRED, Cyril, Arte egipcio en el tiempo de los faraones 3100-320 a. de C, El mundo del arte 18, Barcelona: Destino, 1993 (original edition in english: 1980, London: Thames & Hudson).

ALEGRE CARVAJAL, Esther, El arte en el Antiguo Egipto, Madrid: Ediciones J.C, 2006.

ALEGRE GARCÍA, Susana, Arte en el antiguo Egipto. Claves para su interpretación. Cuenca: Alderabán, 2013.

DAVIS, Whitney Vivian, The Canonical Tradition in Ancient Egyptian Art, Cambridge - New York - Port Chester - Melbourne - Sydney: Cambridge University Press, 1989.

DONADONI, Sergio, El arte egipcio, Fundamentos 160, Madrid: Istmo, 2001 (original edition in italian: 1981, Torino: Unione Tipografica-Editrice Torinese).

ESTRADA LAZA, Fernando, Entender y amar el arte egipcio, Barcelona: Crítica, 2012.

FISCHER, Henry, L'écriture et l'art de l'Égypte ancienne, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1986.

HARTWIG, Melinda (ed.), A Companion to Ancient Egyptian Art, Chichester: Wiley - Blackwell, 2015.

LALOUETTE, Claire, L'art figuratif dans l'Égypte pharaonique. Peintures et sculptures, Champs 326, Paris: Flammarion, 1996.

LECLANT, Jean (dir.), El mundo egipcio. Los faraones. 3 volums. Madrid: Aguilar, 1978-80 (original edition in french: 1978-80, Paris: Gallimard).

MANNICHE, Lise, El arte egipcio, Alianza forma 141, Madrid: Alianza, 1997 (original edition in french: 1994, Paris: Flammarion).

MICHALOWSKI, Kazimierz, El arte del antiguo Egipto, Madrid: Akal, 1991 (original edition in french: 1968, Paris: Éditions Lucien Mazenod).

MOLINERO POLO, Miguel Ángel; SOLA ANTEQUERA, Domingo (coords.), Arte y sociedad del Egipto antiguo. Ensayos 171. Madrid: Encuentro, 2000.

ROBINS, Gay, Proportion and Style in Ancient Egyptian Art, London: Thames & Hudson, 1994.

ROBINS, Gay, The Art of Ancient Egypt, London: British Museum, 2008 (original edition: 1997).

SCHÄFER, Heinrich, Principles of Egyptian Art, Oxford: Griffith Institute, 1986 (original edition in german: 1919, Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs).

SMITH, William Stevenson, Arte y arquitectura del antiguo Egipto. Madrid: Cátedra, 2008 (original edition in english: 1958, Harmondsworth: Penguin Books).

VALDESOGO MARTÍN, María Rosa, El arte egipcio. Cómo interpretar y comprender la obra plástica del antiguo Egipto. Madrid: Dilema, 2011.

WILKINSON, Richard, Magia y símbolo en el arte egipcio, Alianza forma 148, Madrid: Alianza, 2003 (original edition in english: 1994, London: Thames & Hudson).

WILKINSON, Richard, Cómo leer el arte egipcio. Guía de jeroglíficos del antiguo Egipto, Barcelona: Crítica, 2004 (original edition in english: 1992, London: Thames & Hudson).

ZIEGLER, Christiane; BOVOT, Jean-Luc, Art et archéologie. l'Égypte ancienne, Paris: École du Louvre - Réunion des musées nationaux -La Documentation française, 2001.

Software

No specific software is needed.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester morning-mixed