Fayum art is an ancient style that began when the Romans occupied various areas of Egypt. This is a term derived from the name of the place where numerous such items have been found. These items are portraits that were buried alongside the dead. Today, these can be viewed in a number of museums.
The portraits is evidence of the influence of the Roman and Greek occupation. The Greeks were certainly not numerous when they first began living in the area. However due to intermarriage and the arrival of more Romans, changes soon began taking place. These pieces are the beginnings of portraiture, a practice which has survived today.
These portraits were placed on top of the mummies. Surprisingly enough, despite the hundreds of years that these pieces have been buried, they are still in good condition. The colors remained unchanged over time. Experts in the field think that this is largely due to the dry climate.
The practice of placing this items with the dead is a mixture of Roman and Egyptian customs. The portraits generally follow the Greek style of painting. The individuals that were depicted in these images often followed the Roman way of dressing. However, the fact that it is being buried with the dead speaks of Egyptian beliefs.
The subjects were not limited to certain demographics. One can find portraits with subjects ranging from children to adults. These images were typically painted on wood. A few of these portraits have been found on the linen wrappings itself. There were two main techniques that were used to create the images.
One such technique is called the encaustic technique. In this method of painting, hot wax is mixed with the colors. Since oil is not present, the products will not turn yellow. The other technique is called the egg tempera. As one can deduce from the name, egg is one of the materials. The yolk is used with the pigments.
They are significant pieces because they date back to classical times. It is a chance to get a glimpse of how these two cultures mixed. By observing the subject, one knows how they might have looked and how they dressed at that time. The items are thought to be valuable because their production was only limited to the wealthy. They are thought to have been made after the death of the subject.
The surviving portraits only amount to several hundred pieces. They can be viewed in various museums around the world. Information for each piece can be sparse because many of the pieces were not excavated through proper methods. Women, men, adults and children alike are all depicted in these portraits.
The popularity of fayum art cannot compare to the fame of other ancient artifacts. However, though they may remain unknown to many, they are still important because of what they represent. They are one of the few artifacts that show the Egyptians and the Romans lived together. The realistic portrayal of the subjects provide a glimpse of what life was like back then.
The portraits is evidence of the influence of the Roman and Greek occupation. The Greeks were certainly not numerous when they first began living in the area. However due to intermarriage and the arrival of more Romans, changes soon began taking place. These pieces are the beginnings of portraiture, a practice which has survived today.
These portraits were placed on top of the mummies. Surprisingly enough, despite the hundreds of years that these pieces have been buried, they are still in good condition. The colors remained unchanged over time. Experts in the field think that this is largely due to the dry climate.
The practice of placing this items with the dead is a mixture of Roman and Egyptian customs. The portraits generally follow the Greek style of painting. The individuals that were depicted in these images often followed the Roman way of dressing. However, the fact that it is being buried with the dead speaks of Egyptian beliefs.
The subjects were not limited to certain demographics. One can find portraits with subjects ranging from children to adults. These images were typically painted on wood. A few of these portraits have been found on the linen wrappings itself. There were two main techniques that were used to create the images.
One such technique is called the encaustic technique. In this method of painting, hot wax is mixed with the colors. Since oil is not present, the products will not turn yellow. The other technique is called the egg tempera. As one can deduce from the name, egg is one of the materials. The yolk is used with the pigments.
They are significant pieces because they date back to classical times. It is a chance to get a glimpse of how these two cultures mixed. By observing the subject, one knows how they might have looked and how they dressed at that time. The items are thought to be valuable because their production was only limited to the wealthy. They are thought to have been made after the death of the subject.
The surviving portraits only amount to several hundred pieces. They can be viewed in various museums around the world. Information for each piece can be sparse because many of the pieces were not excavated through proper methods. Women, men, adults and children alike are all depicted in these portraits.
The popularity of fayum art cannot compare to the fame of other ancient artifacts. However, though they may remain unknown to many, they are still important because of what they represent. They are one of the few artifacts that show the Egyptians and the Romans lived together. The realistic portrayal of the subjects provide a glimpse of what life was like back then.
