Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Face of an Egyptian canopic vase 1530 - 1605

This print of an Egyptian canopic vase was made by Étienne Dupérac in the late 16th century as part of a series documenting Roman antiquities. Dupérac, like many artists of his time, was deeply influenced by the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, particularly the allure of ancient Egypt. Considered through a contemporary lens, this image reveals the complex dynamics of cultural appropriation and representation. The hieroglyphs, divorced from their original sacred context, become aesthetic objects, exoticized and absorbed into a Western European worldview. The face on the vase invites us to contemplate identity, both in terms of the individual it was intended to preserve and in terms of how ancient cultures are interpreted—and sometimes distorted—through the lens of later societies. This print not only reflects the historical interest in ancient Egypt but also prompts us to question how we engage with and represent cultures distant from our own, urging a more thoughtful and respectful dialogue across time and cultures.