144 A History of Art in Ancient Egypt. of the two faces which look out of the picture. The execution of the drapery is governed by the same idea, its numerous small folds are suggested by lines at slight intervals. In the whole series of Egyptian wall-paintings I know of nothing which is more truly pictorial in character than this picture. A =:r--^=i^jr»«Trzir Fig. 270. — Painting at Tiiebes. From Prisse. careful study of it might well lead us to believe that its painter deliberately set himself to cast off traditional methods, and to obtain all the effect that the skilful use of colour can give. But the seed thus cast did not spring up. Theban painting is not an advance upon that of Beni-Hassan. It hardly ever attempts the full face. It is only here and there that we can point to a work in which the brush seems to have dwelt upon a few details
