ork. The surfaces are not in the least subdued by a general breadth of
style, as in the last period; but, on the contrary, revel in the full
detail of variety. There is perhaps no age where nature is so little
controlled by convention in either the living character or its
sculptured expression. One of these kings might well be the founder of
the IXth Dynasty, "Achthoes (Kheti), who did much injury to all the
inhabitants," "Khuther Taurus the tyrant"; the expression is that of a
Chlodwig or an Alboin. From this type evidently descended the milder and
more civilized kings of the XIIth Dynasty, the resemblance being so
strong that the fierce figures have even been identified with that
dynasty by some. A good example is that of the statue of Amenemhat
(Amenemhe) III. (Plate III. fig. 39). The style of the XIIth Dynasty may
be summed up as clean, highly-finished work, strong in facial detail;
but with neither the grandeur of the IVth nor the vivacity of the
XVIIIth Dynasty. This passed in the XIIIth Dynasty into a graceful but
weak manner, as in the statues of Sebkhotp (Sebek-hotep) III. and
Neferhotp.

(B) The relief work shows most clearly the rise of the new style. In the
middle of the XIth Dynasty an entirely fresh treatment appears; the Old
Kingdom work had died out in very bad sunk-reliefs, the fresh style
(Plate III. fig. 41) was a low relief with sharp edges above the field.
It was full of delicate variety in the surfaces, and of elaborated
close-packed lines of hair and ornaments. By the time of the early XIIth
Dynasty, this reached a perfection of refinement in the detail of facial
curves, with an ostentatiously low relief (P.K. ix. i.), rather on the
lines of modern French work; but the whole with clean, firm outlines,
severely restrained in the expression, and without any trace of emotion.
It is the work of a school, in which high training took the place of the
reliance on nature. Sunk relief was also well used, as by Senusert
(Senwosri) I. (Plate III. fig. 40). There was a steady decline during
the XIIth Dynasty and onward, but the same tone was followed.

(C) In some tombs painting only was used, and it followed the general
character of the relief treatment, being more rigid, detailed, and
scholastic than the older style.

_The XVIIIth-XXth Dynasties._--The obvious, not to say superficial,
character of this age has rendered it one of the most popular in
Egyptian art. The older breadth, fulness, and vigour hav