Antiquities Circle Lecture: Painted Funerary Portraits from Roman Egypt

Join us for an Antiquities Circle lecture related to the exhibition Identity in the Ancient World, presented by Dr. Branko van Oppen.

The ancient Egyptian process of mummification dates back more than 5,500 years. This age-old tradition was visually transformed in the Roman Imperial period by placing painted portrait panels or linen shrouds within the wrapped bandages over the head of the embalmed physical remains of the dead. Over 1,000 examples of such funerary portraits remain today, mostly derived from sites in the Faiyum Oasis and the city of Antinopolis, dating from the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE. This lecture will give an overview of these paintings – some of the oldest surviving portraits of historical mortals, rather than the immortal gods. The talk will focus on the beautiful portrait of a young man currently on loan at the Museum from the Menil Collection. Additionally, current research on the attribution of 25 examples to a single painter’s workshop will be presented.

Dr. Branko F. van Oppen de Ruiter is the Richard E. Perry Curator of Greek & Roman Art at the Tampa Museum of Art. He received his Ph.D. in ancient history from The City University of New York (’07), where he specialized in queenship during the Hellenistic period, from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra. Before coming to Tampa, van Oppen worked for five years at the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdam. In addition to painted funerary portraits from Roman Egypt, his academic interests further include clay seal impressions, animals in ancient material culture, as well as ancient religion and art history in general.

Lectures are offered free with regular admission:

• Art+ Museum Members: Free
• Not-Yet-Members: $25
• Students: Free

RSVP REQUIRED

Image:

Portrait of a Young Man
Funerary portrait panel of a deceased young man with busts of Isis and Sarapis.
Encaustic painting on wood; Egypt; Roman Imperial period, ca. 200-250 CE.
The Menil Collection, Houston, 1984-45 DJ