Most Egyptian painting that survives comes from papyrus scrolls and the walls of tombs. The earliest paintings were simple designs, dating from about 3000 B.C. During the time of the Old Kingdom (2686 to 2181 B.C.), Egyptian artists normally carved scenes in low relief on tomb walls and then painted the reliefs. The scenes depicted Egyptian deities and daily life. The Egyptians believed these subjects were necessary to ease a person's journey to the land of the dead and to provide for that person in the afterlife.

From the Middle Kingdom (1991 to 1786 B.C.) through the New Kingdom (1570 to 1070 B.C.), artists covered the limestone walls of the tombs with a fine layer of plaster and painted the scenes of deities and daily life directly on the plaster.… Click here to read more