Canonical Egyptian art has so specific a function that it is not surprising to find it only in certain settings. It is also based on developed, non-intuitive principles, even if its end result gives an impression intuitively recognisable (people and animals are generally instantly recognisable as such). The setting is the horizon of eternity:

• temples of gods (for the evidence for temples province by province, see the list of nomes)

• temples of kings

• chapels for offerings to the dead.

The ideal materials for projecting perfection into eternity are gold and stone, the harvest of the Egyptian deserts. In assessing Egyptian art, the material is as important a consideration as form, not least because its origin and hardness both affect time of production.