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Primary sourceSculpturec. 1340 BC

Unfinished Portrait Head of Nefertiti with Sculptor's Sketches

c. 1340 BC

An unfinished limestone head of Nefertiti still marked with the sculptor's black-paint guide lines, from a workshop at Amarna.

This unfinished head of Nefertiti reveals how her famous image was actually crafted by ancient sculptors.

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Close-up of the unfinished limestone portrait head of Queen Nefertiti, showing a smooth face with black painted sketch lines for eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips and chin, and a gold-colored chin area. The top of the head is unfinished and the neck is cut off at the bottom.
Unfinished portrait head of Queen Nefertiti with sculptor's sketches, Amarna, c. 1340 BC. Neues Museum, Berlin.

About this source

What it is

This unfinished limestone portrait head of Queen Nefertiti, about 30 cm tall, still shows a sculptor's black-paint sketches marking where features like the eyes, nose and lips should be carved. It was found at Amarna (Achet-Aton), in a house workshop, and dates to around 1340 BC. It is held at the Neues Museum, Berlin.

Why it matters

Because the carving was left unfinished, the sketch lines left by the sculptor are still visible, giving rare direct evidence of how Amarna artists planned royal portraits. It shows the working methods behind the famous images of Nefertiti and the craftsmanship of the artists who served the royal court.

Look closer

  • What do the black sketch lines tell you about how the sculptor planned the face?
  • Why might this piece have been left unfinished in a workshop?
  • How does seeing the

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