There are a number of museums that display ancient portraits that were found attached to Egyptian mummies. These portrait are examples of fayum art, pieces that were created when Alexander reigned in Egypt. The term is actually a name of an area in Egypt but it has long since been used to refer to this particular style of painting.
The portraits is evidence of the influence of the Roman and Greek occupation. The Greeks were certainly not numerous when they first began living in the area. However due to intermarriage and the arrival of more Romans, changes soon began taking place. These pieces are the beginnings of portraiture, a practice which has survived today.
The images were found in mummy burials, often placed on the faces of the dead. Many have survived for thousands of years, the colors still as vibrant as ever. This would not have been possible in a different climate. The hot and dry weather is thought to have contributed to their preservation.
The Roman influence can be seen in the way the subjects are presented. They follow Roman fashion, from the way their hair is styled to the way they are dressed. The way they are painted is also considered an example of the styles Greeks used. Placing valued possessions with the dead however is an Egyptian practice due to their belief in the afterlife.
The subjects are many and varied. Both women and men were depicted. The ages of the subjects ranged from children to young adults. Wood panels were often the medium of choice for the artists. There are however instances when the linen itself or the shroud was sometimes used. To produce the desired portrait, two techniques were often used.
One such technique is called the encaustic technique. In this method of painting, hot wax is mixed with the colors. Since oil is not present, the products will not turn yellow. The other technique is called the egg tempera. As one can deduce from the name, egg is one of the materials. The yolk is used with the pigments.
They are considered valuable pieces because they are examples of classic antiquities. With the exact rendering of the subject, one can learn what they looked like and how they dressed. They are thought to be expensive items because only the wealthy and the privileged at that time could afford to have them made. Many think that these items were made after the subject had died.
The surviving portraits only amount to several hundred pieces. They can be viewed in various museums around the world. Information for each piece can be sparse because many of the pieces were not excavated through proper methods. Women, men, adults and children alike are all depicted in these portraits.
Many are not aware that these portraits are considered examples of fayum art. Though these pieces have not achieved the distinction that other Egyptian artifacts have, they are still valuable pieces that demonstrate that the Romans once occupied Egypt. With the skill with which each subject has been rendered, the portraits are striking images to behold.
The portraits is evidence of the influence of the Roman and Greek occupation. The Greeks were certainly not numerous when they first began living in the area. However due to intermarriage and the arrival of more Romans, changes soon began taking place. These pieces are the beginnings of portraiture, a practice which has survived today.
The images were found in mummy burials, often placed on the faces of the dead. Many have survived for thousands of years, the colors still as vibrant as ever. This would not have been possible in a different climate. The hot and dry weather is thought to have contributed to their preservation.
The Roman influence can be seen in the way the subjects are presented. They follow Roman fashion, from the way their hair is styled to the way they are dressed. The way they are painted is also considered an example of the styles Greeks used. Placing valued possessions with the dead however is an Egyptian practice due to their belief in the afterlife.
The subjects are many and varied. Both women and men were depicted. The ages of the subjects ranged from children to young adults. Wood panels were often the medium of choice for the artists. There are however instances when the linen itself or the shroud was sometimes used. To produce the desired portrait, two techniques were often used.
One such technique is called the encaustic technique. In this method of painting, hot wax is mixed with the colors. Since oil is not present, the products will not turn yellow. The other technique is called the egg tempera. As one can deduce from the name, egg is one of the materials. The yolk is used with the pigments.
They are considered valuable pieces because they are examples of classic antiquities. With the exact rendering of the subject, one can learn what they looked like and how they dressed. They are thought to be expensive items because only the wealthy and the privileged at that time could afford to have them made. Many think that these items were made after the subject had died.
The surviving portraits only amount to several hundred pieces. They can be viewed in various museums around the world. Information for each piece can be sparse because many of the pieces were not excavated through proper methods. Women, men, adults and children alike are all depicted in these portraits.
Many are not aware that these portraits are considered examples of fayum art. Though these pieces have not achieved the distinction that other Egyptian artifacts have, they are still valuable pieces that demonstrate that the Romans once occupied Egypt. With the skill with which each subject has been rendered, the portraits are striking images to behold.
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