The tale of an Amarna fresco

Tell el-Amarna is perhaps best known for the religious revolution that took place more than 3,000 years ago, but it is also famous for the art revolution that flourished there. The Nefertiti bust, the sculptures of the Amarna princesses, and many other artefacts are icons of ancient Egyptian art, as are its murals and pavement paintings. A recently discovered archive of letters tells the story of a unique Amarna fresco and the heroic attempt to preserve this important mural. One of the central characters in our tale is Alfred Lucas. Trained as a chemist, Lucas began his career in government laboratories in London but developed lung disease and moved to Egypt in 1897. He worked as a chemis