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The “Crouching Scribe”, a masterpiece of ancient Egypt, left the Louvre Museum at the beginning of the year to join the Louvre-Lens, for the duration of an exhibition. Discovered in 1850 in Saqqara in Egypt, the sculpture attracts crowds. What is the secret of its charm?
The “Crouching Scribe”, 54 cm high by 44 cm wide, is a masterpiece of humanity. This icon of ancient Egypt was exceptionally lent by the Louvre in Paris to that of Lens (Pas-de-Calais), where it attracts many visitors. The Crouching Scribe is, along with the Mona Lisa, the Louvre’s other star. Their common point? Both capture attention with their gaze. The Scribe’s eyes seem to follow the visitor, wherever he is.
The rock crystal iris and pupil of the Crouching Scribe have been pierced inside the cone, in order to allow light to circulate by reflection. “It’s not just an optical illusion, like the Mona Lisa, it’s really a mechanical effect, which makes the pupil, pierced inside, follow the visitor with his eyes”, explains Hélène Bouillon, Egyptologist at the Louvre Museum in Lens. There are several crouching scribes in ancient Egypt. What makes this one unique is his attentive air: he seems to be waiting for the dictation of the hieroglyphics, which he will then transcribe from right to left on his papyrus. The sculpture was discovered 170 years ago, near the pyramid of Saqqara.