The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 26, 2023

Funerary Portrait of a Woman

c. AD 138–92

This object has related works. See Funerary Portrait of a Man

Egypt, Roman Empire, Antonine

Encaustic on linen

Overall: 26 x 19 cm (10 1/4 x 7 1/2 in.)

John L. Severance Fund 1971.136

Location

107 Egyptian

Description

So-called mummy portraits were apparently painted during the owners' lives and hung in their homes. At the time of the owner's death, the portrait was taken down, cut from its frame, and trimmed to fit the deceased's mummy, to which it was bound. It was at that time also that the gilding on the center painting was added.

Citations
The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 18 archive.org
Berman, Lawrence M., and Kenneth J. Bohač. Catalogue of Egyptian Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999 Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 507
Exhibition history

CMA 1972, no. 3

Year in Review: 1971. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 28, 1971-February 6, 1972).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1971.136