Romano-Egyptian Style Fayum Portrait of a Woman

20TH CENTURY A.D.

18 1/2 x 13 1/4 in. (1.73 kg total, 47 x 33.8 cm including frame).

Portrait of a young woman, her head turned slightly to the right, with an oval face, thin almond-shaped eyes, and a large mouth with full lips; her curly hair arranged above her forehead in a series of rich curls; her clothing consisting of a pink tunic visible at the neck and shoulders; encaustic on wood. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Private collection of Dr Fred Olsen (1891-1986) and Mrs Florence Ellen Olsen (née Quittenton, d.1996), Guilford, Connecticut, by at least 1961.

Exhibited at 'Coptic Art', The Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 5 December 1961-7 January 1962, no.L-380-2, loan number L61.711.

Published

Coptic Art, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, Iowa, 16 February-1 April 1962, no.L-380-2.

Literature

Cf. Parlasca, K., Frenz, H.G., Ritratti di Mummie, Repertorio d’arte dell’Egitto Greco-Romano, Roma, 2003, no.698, for similar.

Footnotes

Fayum portraits, painted on wood or linen, applied to the mummies of the Graeco-Roman period, are one of the most wonderful legacies that the koiné of the Graeco-Roman world has left us. Due to the favourable climate enhancing the state of preservation, these encaustic paintings have left us an almost photographic testimony of the faces of the inhabitants of Roman Egypt.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process

AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 2018