Ancient Egypt and Archaeology Web Site |
Encaustic on limewood, c.140-170 AD. The gilding of the wreath was added after the panel was inserted into the mummy wrapping. Paintings of this type, often called Faiyum portraits (though not all of
them come from the Faiyum oasis), are typical products of the
multicultural, multiethnic society of Roman Egypt. Most of them are
painted in the elaborate encaustic technique, in which pigments were
mixed with hot or cold beeswax and other ingredients, such as egg,
resin, and linseed oil. This versatile medium allowed artists to create
images that in many ways are akin to oil paintings. The boy's head, for
instance, stands out from the light olive-coloured background, creating
an impression of real depth. His face is modelled with flowing
brushstrokes and a subtle blend of light and dark colours. Shadows on the
left side of the face, neck, and garment and bright shiny spots on the
forehead and below the right eye indicate a strong source of light on
the boy's right. Most arresting are the dark brown eyes with black
pupils reflecting the light with bright spots. This manner of painting,
which is very different from the traditional Egyptian style but was well
known in Graeco-Roman Egypt, originated in Classical Greece in the 5th
and 4th centuries BC. |