Fayum Mummy Portraits

Fayum Mummy Portrait, artist unknown, c. 30 BC to the 3rd century (timeline may vary), dimensions may vary, wood panels or board, paints, thin clothing which was also attached to the mummified clothing, owned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

As Seen in the Image above, the works that are portrayed are known as the Fayum Mummy Portraits. These Portraits were used as symbolized art pieces in remembrance of ones death in the Ancient Egyptian culture. Researchers suggest, the portraits were created in a specific elongated manner, in order to convey realism. These characteristics include: attention to the texture, tone of skin, and emotional representation with larger or dramatic eye detailing. This detailing personally is what interested me the most when examining this segment of ancient Egyptian art. Especially considering that you can see this symbolism carried out in relation to what we do today at funeral viewings today. Overall, the Faiyum Mummy Portraits are one of my favorite pieces of ancient Egyptian art works thus far.

Works Cited

Cartwright, Caroline. “Depicting the dead: ancient Egyptian mummy portraits.” British Museum, 27 October 2020, https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/depicting-dead-ancient-egyptian-mummy-portraits. Accessed 22 October 2023.

“» Faiyum mummy portraits.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/egyptian-mummy-portraits-faiyum-portraits/. Accessed 22 October 2023.

“Portrait of the Boy Eutyches | Roman Period.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/547951. Accessed 22 October 2023.

Sabino, Rachel. “Gilding the Dead: Mummy Portraits in Roman Egypt.” The Art Institute of Chicago, 23 October 2019, https://www.artic.edu/articles/767/gilding-the-dead-mummy-portraits-in-roman-egypt. Accessed 22 October 2023.