Public Domain Fayum (or Faiyum) Mummy Portraits
So-called ‘mummy’ portraits (most of which come from the cemetery in Fayum/Faiyum, Egypt) were realistic likenesses of the deceased painted on wood or linen. Only the wealthy could afford them. These individuals were Roman citizens. Roman Egypt’s population was of mixed heritage: Greek, Italian, & north African.
Portrait of a bearded man. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 150 CE-70 CE. From Faiyum, Egypt. Encaustic wax on linden wood. The narrow purple stripe on his right shoulder indicates he was a noble of equestrian rank. Image courtesy of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection; Malibu California (74.AP.11). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a Bearded Man. Encaustic wax on wood. Roman Imperial period, ca. 220 CE -35 CE. Romano-Egyptian, from Faiyum Egypt. Courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 79.AP.141). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Herakleides, with his portrait still attached to the linen wrappings covering his head. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 120 CE-40 CE. Encaustic wax on linden wood. Image courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 91.AP.6.1). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Herakleides (a Greek name) was from a very wealthy family. His portrait is of high quality & gilded. Both the Egyptian religious symbols covering the red shroud wrapped around his body & the shroud’s red color anticipate his rebirth each morning with the rising sun.
For more about Herakleides, see: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/investigating-herakleides-a-portrait-mummy-from-roman-egypt-the-j-paul-getty-museum/GgVxX_XCuyQUrw?hl=en
Mummy Portrait of a woman. Tempera on a panel of Lebanon cedar. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 175 CE-200 CE. The black stripes on her tunic indicate that she is a Roman citizen. Image courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 79.AP.129). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of Isidora (a Greek name, written on her right shoulder) attributed to the ‘Isidora Master’ painter. Encaustic wax on linden wood. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 100 CE. The high quality of the portrait, its lavish gilding, and the jewelry Isidora is portrayed with all indicate enormous wealth. The broad black stripes on her tunic indicate that she was a Roman citizen (probably of high rank). Image courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 81.AP.42). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a Bearded Man. Romano-Egyptian, tempera on wood, ca. 100 CE. Image courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 74.AP.20). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a man. Romano-Egyptian, encaustic wax on wood, ca. 100 CE-125 CE. The broad red strip on the right side of his tunic indicates he is a Roman citizen. Image courtesy of the Getty Open Content Program (Obj. 71.AP.72). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a thin faced man. Encaustic on limewood with gold leaf. Roman period, ca. 140 CE-170 CE. Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Egyptian Art dept (the Rogers Fund, Obj. 09.181.3). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of the boy Eutyches (Eutyches is a Greek name). Encaustic on wood. Roman Period, ca. 100 CE-150 CE. From Fayum, Egypt. Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Egyptian Art dept (Obj. 18.9.2). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a man. Possibly from Faiyum Oasis, Egypt. Encaustic paint on wood. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 100s CE. Image courtesy of the Menil Collection (#CA.7013). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a Woman. Possibly from Faiyum Oasis, Egypt. Encaustic on wood. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 150 CE-200 CE. Image courtesy of the Menil Collection (#CA.7124). CC0 1.0, Public Domain.
Portrait of a man wearing an ivy wreath. Probably from Faiyum, Egypt. Encaustic on linden wood. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 100 CE-150 CE. Image courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago; gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne (1922.4798). CCO. Public Domain.
For more about this portrait see: https://www.artic.edu/digital-publications/42/ancient-egyptian-art-at-the-art-institute-of-chicago/187/cats-110-11-funerary-portraits-roman-period
Portrait of a man wearing a laurel wreath. Probably from Faiyum, Egypt. Encaustic on linden wood. Romano-Egyptian, ca. 100 CE-150 CE. Image courtesy of The Art Institute of Chicago; gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne (19922.4799). CCO. Public Domain.
For more about this portrait see: https://www.artic.edu/digital-publications/42/ancient-egyptian-art-at-the-art-institute-of-chicago/187/cats-110-11-funerary-portraits-roman-period
