In the Coptic period pictures were painted on wooden boards and affixed to mummies. Nowadays this practice is referred to as Fayum art. These types of portraits have been discovered countrywide in Egypt, more often in the Faiyum Basin area. Typically the paintings show the head and bust. These were put beneath the bandages on the face of a mummy or wrapped in the shroud.
A lack of moisture and excessive heat allowed the mummies to last undamaged for centuries. This is also true of the paintings. They were created for the rich and noble deceased citizens of ancient Egypt and buried with the mummies after their death.
Two techniques were employed to create this method called encaustic and tempera. Wax was used for the encaustic method and an egg based paint in the tempera technique. This form of creating masterpieces was learned from the ancient Greeks. The wax method produced portraits of a slightly superior quality.
Painters were admired in Ancient Egypt. They were considered to be master craftsmen. One of these artists would be hired by a family to do a painting, depicting the face and bust of a family member. Once finished, the portrait found a place of honor in the home until the person died.
The canvas on which the painting was created was a smooth, wooden board. The artists took great care to portray the likeness of the person as accurately as possible. After the death of the owner of the portrait, it stayed with the owner as a permanent reminder of what he or she looked like in life.
Fayum art paintings are regarded as the classic art works in the world today. They have survived the test of time to be highly revered by many. Many of them can be viewed in some of the most famous museums in the world. Read more about: fayum art
A lack of moisture and excessive heat allowed the mummies to last undamaged for centuries. This is also true of the paintings. They were created for the rich and noble deceased citizens of ancient Egypt and buried with the mummies after their death.
Two techniques were employed to create this method called encaustic and tempera. Wax was used for the encaustic method and an egg based paint in the tempera technique. This form of creating masterpieces was learned from the ancient Greeks. The wax method produced portraits of a slightly superior quality.
Painters were admired in Ancient Egypt. They were considered to be master craftsmen. One of these artists would be hired by a family to do a painting, depicting the face and bust of a family member. Once finished, the portrait found a place of honor in the home until the person died.
The canvas on which the painting was created was a smooth, wooden board. The artists took great care to portray the likeness of the person as accurately as possible. After the death of the owner of the portrait, it stayed with the owner as a permanent reminder of what he or she looked like in life.
Fayum art paintings are regarded as the classic art works in the world today. They have survived the test of time to be highly revered by many. Many of them can be viewed in some of the most famous museums in the world. Read more about: fayum art
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