Lubica Hudáková, Uta Siffert
Painted for Eternity. Decoration of Middle Kingdom Coffins from Beni Hassan: An Art Historical Case Study
Volume I: The History of Excavations and Catalogue (2 books)
[MKS 14]

This monograph presents the first comprehensive art historical analysis of the painted decoration on Middle Kingdom wooden box coffins from Beni Hassan. In the early 1900s, John Garstang (University of Liverpool) excavated no fewer than 900 tombs in the Lower Necropolis, many of which still contained extensive burial equipment, including wooden box-shaped coffins.
Through a careful study of published and archival material conducted as part of the Painted for Eternity project (University of Vienna), it has been established that over 260 coffins were discovered—more than 220 of them bearing decoration. To date, at least 81 coffins (or fragments thereof) have been located in museums worldwide, and a further 32 decorated coffins have been identified in excavation photographs.

For the first time, these coffins are presented in a catalogue, thoroughly examined in terms of layout and the iconography of their decorative elements. Each is contextualised and published alongside excavation photographs, drawings, and high-quality colour images.
The study reveals the existence of a well-established local tradition and highlights significant practices such as the use of templates, prefabrication, and reuse. A comprehensive analysis of the decorative program of the Beni Hassan coffins is currently in preparation and will be published in the second volume of this study.