Describe how this work was made and comment on how Ramesses has been represented.

The colossal sculpture of Ramesses II is made of one block of two toned granite. The block of granite is made up of a rose pink colour and a dark grey colour. The sculptors exploited the two tone colour of the stone to emphasise division between the face and body. There is a suggestion that because the head is the rose pink part that it elevates the status of the figure. Granite has a low tensile strength and this can be seen through the contained composition and the missing diadem. The sculpture is an example of Ramesside art and would have been made using a reductive process using chisels. As granite is a very hard rock they would have required tools of even harder stones and metals to shape it, for example copper alloys. The form would have been roughed out with large chisels and then detail is achieved with finer chisels, making it a very time consuming process, especially regarding the magnitude of the sculpture. After this, a smooth rubbing stone and abrasive sand with fine grit would have been used to polish the surface of the sculpture. Traces of colour were found on the sculpture in 1817 suggesting that it may have been painted red in antiquity which would further elevate the sculpture. 
The figure of Ramesses II has been represented as a leader and has been represented as an authoritative figure. He has also been idealised by being portrayed having high cheek bones, smooth skin and arched eyebrows over almond shaped eyes. He has been represented as a leader by several features including the modus crown which was surrounded by cobra heads side by side, each surmounted on a sun disk. He is also represented as an authoritative figure by wearing a diadem in the shape of a uraeus. One can just make out the thin strap of the false beard running to each ear, with the rectangular false beard which is known to be traditionally worn by royalty, which further elevates his status as the King of Egypt. The sculpture of Ramesses II is an example of the New Kingdom of Egypt sculpture and this was characterised by boldness and simplicity in conception, refinement and delicacy of detail and this can be seen in this sculpture.