Petrie Portrait Fund

Abstract

THE retirement of Sir Flinders Petrie from the Edwards professorship of Egyptology at University College, London, has seemed to many of his friends an appropriate occasion for an expression of appreciation of his lifelong services to archæology. It is thought that this might most appropriately take the form of his portrait, to be presented to the College with which he has so long been associated. An appeal for funds for this purpose has been issued over the names of Prof. J. H. Breasted, M. J. Capart, Dr. Howard Carter, Prof. F. LI. Griffith, Sir George Hill, Sir Henry Lyons, Dr. Allan Mawer, Sir Robert Mond and Dr. Margaret Murray. In issuing the appeal, it is pointed out that it is now more than fifty years since Sir Flinders began work as an archæologist at Stonehenge, and soon afterwards carried out the first accurate survey of the Pyramids at Gizeh. Referring to his influence on archaæological studies during his long career as an excavator, the committee states no more than the bare truth when it points to his insistence on accurate observation and recording, and the stress he has laid on the significance of smaller finds, equally with the larger, in an excavation, in developing knowledge of the social conditions of the past. The appeal also refers to his early recognition of the importance of correlation in studying the intercourse between the various peoples of the Near East from earliest times. Finally, in attributing to him in large measure the awakening of modern interest in archaeology, mention is made of the great number of archæologists who have achieved distinction after receiving their training and inspiration from him as lecturer and excavator. Subscriptions towards the fund will be received by Sir Henry Lyons, F.R.S., 3 York Terrace, Regent's Park, London, N.W.I.