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Ancient Fayum Mummy Portrait Set for Auction, Showcases Early Realism

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A remarkable funerary portrait from Roman Egypt, dating back to the 1st century AD, is scheduled for auction next week at Sotheby's in New York. This Fayum mummy portrait features a male subject with striking hazel eyes and graying hair, potentially selling for up to $350,000 due to its exceptional craftsmanship and emotional depth. The portrait, part of a collection at Goucher College for over a century, highlights the blend of Egyptian and Roman artistic traditions and is one of the earliest examples of realistic portraiture. The auction marks a significant moment in art history, as it emphasizes the advanced naturalism achieved in this period, predating similar techniques in later European art by over a millennium.

Key Details: • Auction scheduled for next week at Sotheby's in New York. • Estimated sale price up to $350,000. • The portrait has been in Goucher College's collection since 1895. • Significant for its representation of early realistic portrait painting.

art history auction mummy-portraits fayum

People & Organizations

New YorkBaltimoreSotheby'sAlexandra OlsmanGeorge WachterFayumGoucher CollegeWalters Art MuseumMetropolitan Museum of ArtDetroit Institute of the Arts

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