North Wall of Nakht's Offering Chapel 1410 BC

Lancelot Crane created this watercolor of the North Wall of Nakht’s Offering Chapel sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The mural it depicts was originally made with mud plaster, and painted in tempera - pigment mixed with a binder like egg yolk to fix it to the wall. Crane used watercolor, a medium that captures the original's delicate colors and flat perspective. While tempera is known for its quick-drying properties, it’s interesting to see the artist recreate it here in watercolor. The original mural would have been created by skilled artisans following precise iconographic conventions; they would have had to follow standardized practices to create this tomb. Crane’s own hand is evident in the way he handled the watercolor, mimicking the appearance of the original’s tempera. This act of copying, in a way, embodies the ethos of craft: honoring tradition through careful replication. Crane isn’t just representing the scene, but also the labor and skill embedded within it. In doing so, he acknowledges the enduring value of craftsmanship across time.