ECM.1473-2010
Parts
Object number
ECM.1473-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
Fayum Portrait
Description
Mummy portrait of a curly-haired bearded man, painted on a thin wooden panel originating from the Fayum basin, Egypt.
Other number
519, 1252
Description
Dimensions
Height: 48.7cm
Width: 32.4cm
Width: 32.4cm
Material
Wood
encaustic
encaustic
Physical description
Encaustic mummy panel, with the bust of a curly haired and bearded young man. In a glazed, modern oak frame
Production
Note
Produced between 120-170AD (date estimated due to facial hair style and clothing)
History and association
Associated person
Myers, William Joseph, 1858 - 1899 (Compiler)
Associated place
Fayum
Object history note
Vol.29 of the diary of Joseph William Myers mentions a visit to Fayum on 07/04/1896, there is no evidence he visited the Fayum Basin at any other time.
"Tuesday (April 7th) A pleasant day – not too hot. Went to the Pyramid of Hawara about 8 miles off on the | edge of the desert. Started soon after 10 with donkeys, Mansour & Suleyman. Did a little quail shooting on the way. One cannot go straight owing to the irrigation channels mostly from the Bahr Youssouf. Reached there soon after 12. The Pyramid, wh I ascended & got a good view from the top[,] is built of large sundried brick mixed with straw. It dates from 18th dynasty I believe. Petrie knocked it about a lot searching for the entrance & also rifled most of the tombs which lie near the foot – mostly of Roman & early Christian time & wh. interested me much as many of the wax paintings were found here & the rest at Rubaiyat some miles further off. Only wish I had the chance again of buying those I declined & wh. made the fortune of Graf."
It is clear the portrait was not obtained during this visit.
Theodore Graf was a known dealer of Fayum portraits.
Featured in the "Legion" Exhibition at the British Museum Feb-July 2024
"Tuesday (April 7th) A pleasant day – not too hot. Went to the Pyramid of Hawara about 8 miles off on the | edge of the desert. Started soon after 10 with donkeys, Mansour & Suleyman. Did a little quail shooting on the way. One cannot go straight owing to the irrigation channels mostly from the Bahr Youssouf. Reached there soon after 12. The Pyramid, wh I ascended & got a good view from the top[,] is built of large sundried brick mixed with straw. It dates from 18th dynasty I believe. Petrie knocked it about a lot searching for the entrance & also rifled most of the tombs which lie near the foot – mostly of Roman & early Christian time & wh. interested me much as many of the wax paintings were found here & the rest at Rubaiyat some miles further off. Only wish I had the chance again of buying those I declined & wh. made the fortune of Graf."
It is clear the portrait was not obtained during this visit.
Theodore Graf was a known dealer of Fayum portraits.
Featured in the "Legion" Exhibition at the British Museum Feb-July 2024
Field collection
Collection place
Egypt
