Discovery of portraits of people who lived years ago In Egypt has caught the attention of many since they were found. Today these portraits are referred to as fayum art as many of them were found in the Fayum Basin, a large fertile area south-west of Cairo. However, they have been discovered all over Egypt, so the term refers more to the style than to where they were found.
These portraits were found covering the faces of bodies which had been mummified. They were painted on panels of hard wood like oak, cedar, cypress and fig. The panels were then bound to the wrapping cloths covering the bodies.
Very few examples of paintings on panels have survived, despite the fact that this tradition was highly respected in the classical word. These portraits are very well preserved, probably due to being buried in the hot, dry sands of Egypt. The colors are still vivid today and they give us a glimpse at a style which would otherwise have been lost.
The portraits were painted by different painters, some who were more talented than others. We now know from analyses that they used standard forms for proportion and individualization came from what was added. The individual was painted from frontal view. The head and sometimes the shoulders were shown. The facial features were detailed and appear very realistic.
The encaustic technique which was initially used for painting, was a laborious one but it did produce excellent effects. Pigment and wax was used and this was applied to a prepared layer which prevented paint from sinking into the wood. The colors and texture produced using this method gave a bold, life-like quality to the work. At a later stage, the tempura technique was preferred. This was a quicker method and cheaper but the colors produced were chalkier.
There has been much speculation as to who is depicted in these portraits. It is not certain whether they are Greeks, Romans or Egyptians. Some information has been obtained from inscriptions and deductions have also been made from the hairstyles, clothing worn and other ornamentation. It appears that not everyone could afford a portrait and so it seems that the more wealthy members of society are shown here.
Most of the portraits show young people or even children. Perhaps this was because people died young in those days. Perhaps it was because portraits were painted while the person was still alive and then displayed until they died. Despite speculation, research has indicated that it is more likely that they were painted after the death of the individual.
Today there are about nine hundred fayum art which have been extracted and are found in museums around the world. They provide realistic images which fascinate those who view them. They also showcase the skills of ancient painters and have great significance as the only large body of art from the panel painting tradition to have survived.
These portraits were found covering the faces of bodies which had been mummified. They were painted on panels of hard wood like oak, cedar, cypress and fig. The panels were then bound to the wrapping cloths covering the bodies.
Very few examples of paintings on panels have survived, despite the fact that this tradition was highly respected in the classical word. These portraits are very well preserved, probably due to being buried in the hot, dry sands of Egypt. The colors are still vivid today and they give us a glimpse at a style which would otherwise have been lost.
The portraits were painted by different painters, some who were more talented than others. We now know from analyses that they used standard forms for proportion and individualization came from what was added. The individual was painted from frontal view. The head and sometimes the shoulders were shown. The facial features were detailed and appear very realistic.
The encaustic technique which was initially used for painting, was a laborious one but it did produce excellent effects. Pigment and wax was used and this was applied to a prepared layer which prevented paint from sinking into the wood. The colors and texture produced using this method gave a bold, life-like quality to the work. At a later stage, the tempura technique was preferred. This was a quicker method and cheaper but the colors produced were chalkier.
There has been much speculation as to who is depicted in these portraits. It is not certain whether they are Greeks, Romans or Egyptians. Some information has been obtained from inscriptions and deductions have also been made from the hairstyles, clothing worn and other ornamentation. It appears that not everyone could afford a portrait and so it seems that the more wealthy members of society are shown here.
Most of the portraits show young people or even children. Perhaps this was because people died young in those days. Perhaps it was because portraits were painted while the person was still alive and then displayed until they died. Despite speculation, research has indicated that it is more likely that they were painted after the death of the individual.
Today there are about nine hundred fayum art which have been extracted and are found in museums around the world. They provide realistic images which fascinate those who view them. They also showcase the skills of ancient painters and have great significance as the only large body of art from the panel painting tradition to have survived.
About the Author:
The homepage at www.fayum.net offers info on fayum art that people require for all their portrait buying needs. For more details check out http://www.fayum.net today.
No comments:
Post a Comment