Sotheby’s has recently made headlines by selling a remarkable painting of a man from first-century CE Egypt, during the Roman era. This artwork is believed to mark the beginning of realistic portraiture, emerging 1,200 years before similar styles appeared in Italy.
This captivating piece is part of the Fayum Mummy Portraits collection, which encompasses a series of artworks discovered during 19th-century excavations at Hawara, located in Egypt’s Fayum region. These portraits were crafted to adorn mummified remains, serving as masks that captured the likeness of the deceased. Painted with a unique mixture of pigments and melted beeswax on wooden panels, over 900 of these stunning portraits have been unearthed, with several finding their way to auction.
The featured portrait depicts a dignified older man with dark skin, graying hair, striking hazel eyes, and a prominent lower lip. This exquisite artwork recently fetched an impressive $889,000, including fees. Despite their creation and burial in Egypt, the subjects of these portraits may have been Romans, as those of noble status could afford both mummification and commissioned portraits.
Distinctive features, such as the man’s substantial nose, hint at his possible Roman heritage, a trait that still resonates in the Italian lineage today. Yet, it is the incredible realism of the portrait that truly captivates viewers, evoking a sense that the man is portrayed just as he existed.
“It invites you to want to know more about him and to feel his presence,” shared Alexandra Olsman, a Sotheby’s specialist in ancient sculpture and art.
Roman control over Egypt followed the Ptolemaic dynasty’s Macedonian rule. Over time, the characteristics of the local population, particularly in urban areas, would have been influenced by intermarriages with northern Mediterranean peoples. The question remains whether the subjects were painted in life, death, or some state in between. Olsman noted that the genuine connection conveyed through the eyes suggests this is not merely an artist’s interpretation of a deceased individual.
Sotheby’s has successfully auctioned more than a dozen Fayum mummy paintings over the years, with this particular portrait, alongside another featuring a young man with curly hair, attracting the highest bids yet.
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