Fayum Mummy Portrait 100

This encaustic on wood panel, created in Roman Egypt, presents a lifelike portrait intended to adorn a mummy. The subject's gaze, direct and unwavering, draws us in, echoing the ancient Roman concept of "virtus," or moral strength. Note the subject’s hairstyle, reminiscent of Roman portraiture of the time. However, its echoes go back further. The arrangement of his hair, with curls framing the face, evokes images of deities and rulers from classical antiquity. This motif reappears through time, consider how it has been used in Renaissance art, as a signifier of power and divinity. The psychological effect of such imagery is profound. It taps into our collective memory, conjuring a sense of timelessness, inviting us to reflect on the cyclical nature of human existence, and the echoes of the past resonating in the present. This portrait is not merely an image of death, but a powerful symbol of enduring life.