Although commonly referred to as “Faiyum
portraits,” mummy portraits from Roman Egypt
have been found throughout the country, from
the Mediterranean coast to the banks of the Nile
Valley; however, many of the most celebrated
works come from cemeteries in the desert oasis
of Faiyum. These fascinating paintings are the
product of two worlds, combining Egyptian
funerary beliefs with the sophisticated
portraiture of the Greco-Roman tradition.
The preservation of the physical remains of the
deceased was a central focus of Egyptian
funerary customs, eventually leading to the
creation of mummies. However, mere
preservation of the corpse was not sufficient, the
mummy itself had to appear alive. Elaborate
coffins and funerary masks evolved to present
the remains with the appearance of vitality.
Although mummification was still practiced
during the Roman Period, the techniques had
begun to devolve and many of these mummies
have since decayed, leaving behind only these
haunting portraits.
While the painting technique of Faiyum portraits
is unmistakably Roman, their presence on or
near the remains of the deceased is an Egyptian
custom, representing a fusion of technique and
belief. The people portrayed were likely the
administrative elite and their families who ruled
over this multiethnic, multicultural frontier of the
Roman Empire. No doubt they held faith in the
Ancient Egyptian cults, as evident by their focus
on preparing for the afterlife; but they also chose
to depict themselves as Romans, wearing
customary Roman fashions and jewelry. The
heightened realism of the portraits was made
possible by the relative fluidity of the encaustic
technique where pigments were mixed with hot
or cold beeswax as well as other ingredients,
producing a medium that is very similar to oil
paint.
This striking portrait of a young man was
painted in the encaustic technique on a panel
composed of a series of vertical wooden slats
that have been bound together. Although the
vibrancy of the hues has diminished somewhat
over the centuries, the work remains remarkably
well preserved. His dark brown eyes, thick
eyebrows, and dark curly hair are all features
characteristic of the people depicted on such
portraits. The painter has managed to capture
the effects of light and shadow on the curves of
his face, most noticeable around his mouth and
chin. He wears a simple white tunic decorated
with a thin blue collar. Like an old photograph
that has faded over the years, we recognize
something familiar in this work, and in the eyes
of this man, something we recognize in
ourselves too.
- (X.0381)
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