After submitting my doctorate (Ph.D.) thesis in 2011, I had the opportunity to present my research at the Montreal chapter of the Association for the Study of Ancient Near-East's (Association pour l'Étude du Proche-Orient Ancien) 2012 colloquium at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQUAM).
Below is a basic English translation of the introductory text to this research in French, which consists of an iconographical analysis of ancient Egyptian artwork found in the context of tombs of the New Kingdom tombs.
Votive representations for the "Lady of Life": iconography of New Kingdom Egyptian earthenware bowls
"Using examples drawn from his iconographic analysis of New Kingdom Egyptian earthenware bowls, the author presents the major symbolic themes of fertility and rebirth in the afterlife, typically found on this type of ceramic and intrinsically linked to the deity Hathor ("Lady of Life"). Through an analysis of the formal and symbolic transformations of these iconographic motifs, the author discusses the historical, ideological and socio-political factors leading to representational transformations. This approach will enable us to grasp the dynamics underlying the maintenance and subtle transformation of the Egyptian representational canon (canon codified by the state and theologians, adoption of foreign motifs, religious transformations, etc.)."
(February 7th, 2012) Abigaëlle Richard. Votive representations for the "Lady of Life": iconography of earthenware bowls from the Egyptian New Kingdom, presentation at the Department of History of the Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal
(7 février 2012) Abigaëlle Richard. Representations votives pour la « Dame de Vie » : iconographie des bols de faïence du Nouvel Empire égyptien, conférence au département d'histoire de l'Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal
Download the full ebook of the presentation in French:
In 2011, I submitted my Ph.D. thesis in French at the Université de Montréal. The topic of this research was an iconographical analysis of ancient Egyptian artwork, in the form of faience blue marsh-bowls (Nun bowls) in New Kingdom tombs and in the temple of the goddess Hathor. A full version of the text in available in the form of a free ebook (see below), while a basic English translation of the introductory text can be found here.
"Votive representations for "the lady of life". Iconographical analysis of faience bowls of the Egyptian New Kingdom."
"This study’s research question raises the issue of the paradoxical nature of the Egyptian canon of representation which shows, simultaneously, a certain rigidity in the application of established stylistic and iconographic rules, especially in non-state commissioned art, and evidence for the transformation and integration of new iconographical motifs. The study aims to identify the mechanisms by which the canon permits, at the same time, transformative processes and the maintenance of tradition. The approach is twofold and consists primarily in identifying trends and stylistic/iconographical discontinuities in the iconography found on the faience bowls from the Middle to the New Kingdoms. Furthermore, it aims to determine if the socio-political and ideological transformations taking place in these periods can be discerned in the stylistic and iconographical variations found on the bowls of the Middle to the New Kingdoms. The author discusses the theoretical model of “representation” in Egyptian context, followed by an analysis of what constitutes the major contribution of this study: an exhaustive iconographical analysis of 500 faience bowls and fragments originating from various Egyptian sites dating to the New Kingdom. The data was evaluated by means of the method of iconological analysis proposed by Panofsky, which permits the identification of a number of stylistic and iconographic continuities and changes for all periods. These transformations seem to be the result of a variety of factors, including fluctuations in the centralization and decentralization of the state, as well as the integration of foreign motifs (Near-Eastern and Aegean), which results from increased contacts between Egypt and its neighbouring regions. Furthermore, the ideological transformations taking place under Akhenaten’s reign and the ones resulting from the ideological “counter-reformation” occurring during the Ramessid period, equally seem to contribute to the changes in the representational canon, even though the latter maintained a certain continuity that was legitimized by the state. The canon thus emerges as a form of language used by the state, and sometimes despite it, which can fluctuate and be altered depending on the realities of the different periods."
(2011) Abigaëlle Richard. "Votive representations for "the lady of life". Iconographical analysis of faience bowls of the Egyptian New Kingdom", Ph.D. thesis, Montreal: Université de Montréal, 444 p., cxxxvi.
(2011) Abigaëlle Richard. Représentations votives pour la « Dame de Vie ». Analyse iconographique des bols de faïence du Nouvel Empire égyptien, thèse de doctorat, Montréal: Université de Montréal, 444 p., cxxxvi.
Download the free ebook in French:
Download the dissertation defense presentation in French:
In 2010 (August 6th), while I was doing my doctorate (Ph.D.) research, I had the opportunity to offer a presentation on Ancient Egyptian art, iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt at the Art History department of the Cegep du Vieux Montréal in Montreal. You can download the free presentation in French below and here is basic English translation of the introductory text for the presentation.
Iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt
"The objective of the conference is to present, after a brief historical context of Pharaonic Egypt, the canon of representation used in the representation of this ancient culture, while explaining the symbolic and ideological role linked to the iconography."
(August 16th 2010) Abigaëlle Richard, Iconography and canon of representation of Pharaonic Egypt, presentation at the art history department of the CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, Montreal.
(16 Août 2010) Abigaëlle Richard, Iconographie et canon de représentation de l'Égypte pharaonique, conférence au départment d'histoire de l'art du CEGEP du Vieux Montréal, Montréal.
Download the free presentation in French: