Myrtle Florence Broome

Myrtle Broome was an English archaeological artist and epigrapher in Egypt. She first studied at an art school in Bushey and then, because of an abiding interest in Ancient Egypt, studied Egyptology under Flinders Petrie and Margaret Murray (q.v. Breaking Ground) at University College, London. In 1927 she joined in copying inscriptions in the tombs at Qau el-Kebir and due to this experience was hired in 1929 by the Egypt Exploration Society to join Amice Calverley (q.v.) at Abydos's great temple of Seti I. Here for eight years the two women copied the painted reliefs in view of publication. Besides reinforcing photographs, they did water color copies of some scenes as color photography was still in its infancy. Because such copy work allowed no freedom of expression, Miss Broome found an outlet for her artistic talents by sketching and painting scenes in the local village. Four folio volumes of their recording work in the temple were published jointly by the Egypt Exploration Society of London and the University of Chicago.

Author of biography: John Ruffle
Includes bibliography? Yes

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Keywords: epigraphy, Amice Calverley, Seti I, Abydos, Washington Herbert Broome, Griffith Institute Oxford, Bushey, Sir Herbert Herkomer, University College London, Flinders Petrie, Margaret Murray, Olga Tufnell, Qau el-Kebir, Kharga, Dakhla, Egpt Exploration Society, Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, John D. Rockefeller Jr., World War II

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Breaking Ground: Pioneering Women Archaeologists
Published by the University of Michigan Press, 2004