Statue of Nectanebo (Egypt)

Colecciones reales. Cultura egipcia (Sala 33, Vitrina 8)

The statue of Nectanebo, king of the 30th dynasty, is a fine example of the first restorations carried out by sculptors from the late Renaissance.

It is a total reconstruction of a highly fragmented Egyptian original made of granite to which part of the head of another statue was added. The remaining losses were reintegrated by carving different types of stone—easily identifiable because they differ in colour—creating the appearance of a jigsaw puzzle.

In the 17th century the object belonged to the collection of Queen Christina of Sweden, and it was subsequently purchased in Rome by Philip V and Isabella Farnese.

It appears in a drawing from the 18th century exactly as we see it today, and we can therefore conclude that the restoration predates that acquisition, possibly executed under orders from the king himself. However, it probably underwent several interventions between the time of its discovery and its complete reconstruction.