Fayum Mummy Portraits

Mummy Portrait from Antinoopolis
Found in Winter 1905/06, Sold to Berlin in 1907, Egyptian Museum

Having explored an element of the afterlife, I want to explore different representations of the passover, therefore I was recommended to explore Fayum Mummy Portraits, which I found myself conceptually inspired. 

The mummy portraits represented death, as they were placed to cover the faces of the mummified bodies for burial. The traditional paintings often depicted a head, upper chest or head to signify this. 

Traditionally these painting would be presented onto wood, but sometimes they were directly painting onto the canvas or rags of the mummy wrapping which is known as cartonnage painting. This almost signifies an element of decay and fragility, which I would like to capture within my work. 

"The finished panels were set into layers of wrapping that enclosed the body, and were surrounded by bands of cloth giving the effect of a window-like opening through which the face of the deceased could be seen."

This is suggestive of the pass over to the afterlife, the surreal elements of a window-like which is reflective of another dimension within reality. 

They also used encaustic which is also known as a wax substance to paint onto, which I believe reacted as a distorted highlighting the space between the audience and the drawing, suggestive of this figure is gone. 

Golf leaf was used to capture an essence of jewellery and wreath, suggestive of wealth which personally reflects a sense of history. 

In some sources, Fayum mummy portraits were linked with a Roman belief as there was correlation through their ancestors. Within this belief they wore funeral masks, which were worn by mourners to emphasize they connection and belief of the continuity of life, creating a spiritual presence.