This Roman mummy portrait is an encaustic painting on a wooden panel, then inlaid into stone. Dating from 1st to 3rd Century Roman Egypt, it draws on the funerary portrait tradition of Roman Egypt. 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.

A Roman Mummy Portrait with Rich Surface Detail

The sitter is presented frontally with brown eyes, dark patterned hair and a layered beaded necklace. Warm ochres and golds across the face and neck are set against a deep red garment, creating a more saturated palette than several other portraits in the group. The panel edge is irregular, giving the composition the character of an archaeological fragment rather than a conventionally framed painting.

The direct gaze is central to the impact of the Roman mummy portrait. These works occupy a meeting point between naturalistic portrait painting and Egyptian funerary practice. Here, the jewellery, dark hair and red clothing create a decorative interpretation without losing the intimacy of the face. The Deeply Melancholic Fayum Mummy Portrait offers a more tightly cropped emotional study, while Fayum Mummy Portrait 4 provides a paler contrast. De Ferranti’s Mica for Wall Surfaces & Furniture collection is relevant where painted commissions on mica are considered, while the Signature Art Series explores figurative painting on mineral surfaces.

Format, Lighting and Composition

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. Consider lighting that reveals surface without excessive glare, and leave surrounding space for the irregular panel silhouette to remain legible. Grouped portraits can use differences in colour and outline to form a collected composition.

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.