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Mummy portrait of a woman

100/120

British Museum

British Museum
London, United Kingdom

This portrait was attached to an Egyptian-style mummy, and appears to be a naturalistic depiction of the subject, thus perpetuating the memory of the woman's physical appearance. However, since the mummy has not survived, it is uncertain how naturalistic it was. This feature was a direct result of the Greco-Roman influence of the period.

The mummy portrait, painted in encaustic on limewood, was excavated by Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) in 1888.

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  • Title: Mummy portrait of a woman
  • Date Created: 100/120
  • Physical Dimensions: Length: 38.20cm; Width: 20.50cm; Thickness: 0.15cm
  • External Link: British Museum collection online
  • Technique: encaustic
  • Registration number: 1994,0521.4
  • Place: Excavated/Findspot Hawara
  • Period/culture: Roman Period
  • Material: lime wood; wax
  • Copyright: Photo: © Trustees of the British Museum
  • Acquisition: Transferred from National Gallery. Excavated by Petrie, William Matthew Flinders
British Museum

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