Ancient Egyptian art is often seen by modern viewers as flat, static, and formal, compared to more 'naturalistic' ancient Greek and later European art. However, the conventions of the Egyptian artistic style successfully served their purpose: art was a form of visual language, in which clear communication was more important than realism. This talk will explore works of ancient Egyptian art in the collections of National Museums Scotland to examine the importance of tradition in an artistic style that lasted thousands of years, as well as the creative ways in which craftsmen and artists innovated within that system and incorporated external cultural influences. 

Dr Margaret Maitland is senior curator of the Ancient Mediterranean collections at the National Museum of Scotland.