Ancient Art of Egypt

Dr. Rita Keane, Professor of Art History, Drew University

Mondays, 1:00–3:00 pm. April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5.

Florham Park Library - 107 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park

In this course, we will survey the cultural production of ancient Egypt over three thousand years, from the third millennium BCE to the last pharaoh, Cleopatra VII. We will consider the close alignment of ancient Egyptian art with the natural world and political power, as well as the most famous monuments of funerary art, such as the Great Pyramids. Figures studied will include Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun, Ramesses II, and Cleopatra. We will pay special attention to works of art accessible in American museum collections, especially the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. 

April 7 Introduction, the history of Egyptology, the first Egyptian art

April 14  The Age of Pyramids, the Old Kingdom

April 21 The Middle Kingdom, and the early New Kingdom: Hatshepsut 

April 28 Change in the New Kingdom: the Amarna period, and Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamen

May 5 Cleopatra & Greco-Roman Egypt 

Rita Keane is a professor of Art History at Drew University. She has an M.A. in art history from Williams College and a doctorate in art history from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She was honored with the coveted President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2023.

Keane has been at Drew (and has lived in Madison) since 2008. At Drew, she teaches the ancient and medieval curriculum in the Art History department, including ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art, medieval art, and Islamic art.

Once asked what her favorite course is to teach, she replied, “If I had to identify one favorite class above all, it would have to be the Ancient Art of Egypt, for the same reason that everyone loves Egyptian art because it is just so very cool.” 

Her publications consider the lives and art-collecting practices of medieval women. She leads students abroad on shortTRECs to southern France to delve into the rich history of art and culture and day trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Florham Park Library - 107 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park