Portrait of a Woman
- Culture
- Roman, 753 BCE–395 CE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Period
- Antonine period, 138–192 CE
- Date
- 2nd century CE
- Material
- Water-based media on wood panel
- associated with
- er-Rubayat, Al-Fayyum governate, Egypt, Africa
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- Ancient Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 313
- Dimensions
- 10 1/8 x 5 7/8 in. (25.7 x 14.9 cm)
box mount: 19 in. x 14 7/8 in. x 2 in. (48.3 x 37.8 x 5.1 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Max A. Goldstein
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 128:1951
NOTES
Unlike the idealized faces from earlier periods, this portrait from the Roman period in Egypt portrays the subject as she looked in real life. Her almond-shaped eyes dominate this striking likeness of a well-to-do Egyptian woman (note her gold and pearl earrings). Portraits like this were placed over the face of a mummy and held in place by the outermost wrappings. The portrait was likely commissioned while she was still alive, capturing her in middle age with gray-streaked hair and deep forehead creases.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.