Page:A History of Art in Ancient Egypt Vol 2.djvu/174

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I50 A History of Art in Ancient Egypt the cornice begins. Above this there is a hollow curve with perpendicular grooves, which, again, is surmounted by a plain fillet which makes a sharp line against the sky. In all this there is a skilful opposition of hollows to flat surfaces, of deep shadow to brilliant and unbroken sunlight, which marks the upward Fig. 133. — riuteu-- in the intercolumniations of the portico in the second court of the Rame seu:)i- determination of the great masses upon which it is used in the most effective manner. Although the Egyptian architect repeated this cornice con- tinually, he contrived to give it variety of effect by modifying its proportions, and by introducing different kinds of ornaments. In