This encaustic Fayum portrait is painted on a wooden panel and then inlaid into stone. Dating from 1st to 3rd Century Roman Egypt, it draws on the funerary portrait tradition associated with Egyptian mummification. Commissions have included door panels, wall tiles inset with portraits and distressed coffered ceilings, with no coffins yet. De Ferranti’s re-creations of Fayum portraits are available to special commission.

An Encaustic Fayum Portrait with Strong Colour

The sitter is presented frontally with large dark eyes, black hair gathered beneath a blue-green band and a pale turquoise garment crossed by darker lines. Small earrings and a fine necklace add detail without distracting from the face. The irregular upper outline of the panel and areas of apparent wear reinforce the sense of an excavated object, while the dark surround gives the portrait a clear boundary.

Ancient encaustic painting used pigment bound in beeswax, a medium capable of dense colour and modelled features. In this encaustic Fayum portrait, the face is built from contrast, shadow and concentrated highlights rather than a flat graphic treatment. Fayum Mummy Portrait 1 offers a materially different comparison because it is painted on sandstone using a fresco technique, while Fayum Mummy Portrait 4 presents a quieter, pale-robed variation. De Ferranti’s Frescoes & Religious Iconography and Signature Art Series extend the conversation into wall painting and figurative work on stone.

Format and Interior Planning

The verified format is 30 x 30 cm with a thickness of 2 cm and a custom finish. Listed applications include art installations, bathrooms, doors, kitchens, residential interiors, tiles and walling. For specification, review the surrounding material, joint width, lighting direction and sightline. A single portrait can work as an intimate focal panel, while grouped pieces require careful spacing so each face retains its individual presence.

Project Guidance and Enquiries

For project guidance, availability, pricing, samples or further information, please use the Send E-Mail button below this description. Your enquiry will come directly to De Ferranti, and we will be pleased to discuss suitability, quantities, lead times and options for your project.