Origin: Egypt
Circa: 1 st Century AD
Dimensions: 13" (33.0cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide
Collection: Egyptian
Style: Roman Period
Medium: Paint on Wood
The so-called Faiyum portraits are the fascinating result of cultural fusion between indigenous Egyptian and invading Roman cultural styles. The Romans had a fascination with the longevity of Egyptian mummies and the immortality they promised, and introduced to the mummification process the relatively innovative and to Egypt revolutionary art style of perceived representationalism. The reign of Akhenaten had been the only flirtation Egypt had had with such a style, and the violent end of him and his short-lived dynasty (including the possible murder of Tutankhamun) heralded the return of traditional Egyptian styles.
This piece, 13 inches tall by 6.5 wide, is both spectacular and highly significant to the development of Egyptian and Roman art styles. It has been published in full as is appropriate for a piece of this importance (H.F. in Klaus Parlasca and Hellmut Seemann (editors), Augenblikcke. Mumienporträts und ägyptische Grabkunst aus römischer Zeit (Munich 1999), pages 220-221, catalogue number 129). The piece is described below by Dr R.S. Bianchi:

Antiquities
Ancient Egyptian