Portrait of a woman from a mummy
Culture: Egyptian
Period: Roman Period
Date: 2nd-3rd century A.D.
Medium: Encaustic on wood
Dimensions:
h. 10 3/16 in. (25.8 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 91.80.93
Provenance: Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. (1921-2004), San Antonio, by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 1991
Label Text
By the time the Romans annexed Egypt in 30 B.C., the Egyptians had been mummifying their dead for almost 3,000 years. This long-established practice continued under Roman rule. In the Roman period, mummies were wrapped in linen bandages, and a portrait, painted on linen or wood or made from plaster, was placed over the head. Despite their incorporation into a uniquely Egyptian burial practice, the mummy portraits have similarities to portraits created in Italy and in other Roman provinces and reflect a shared desire to commemorate the deceased. The subjects of the portraits wear clothing, hairstyles, and jewelry that echo contemporary fashions in Rome. (Jessica Powers, 2008)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
