Fayum art is known all over the world as a distinct kind of portrait, famous for utilizing thick, wooden panelling. In ancient times, this type of painting was considered a distinguished artwork, while today it remains a subject of study for artistic historians. The style can be derived from Ancient Egypt and more appropriately, the Fayum Basin where it got its name. The painting are mainly associated with those who died and were mummified in that time.
Since it emerged out of Egypt, the name and the artwork itself has come to mean a great deal more. It has created a reputation for itself, representing an inspired time in the world of the arts. It started out around the first century BC and ended during the Byzantine period, by which time it has been significantly altered.
In the beginning, the Egyptian people would make use of these boards by covering the mummies in preparation of the burial. After they had been prepared, the painting would be placed on top of the head. This is why each portrait just details the face and nothing below.
Nowadays, the majority of these portraits have been extracted from their original resting places for the sake of examination. It is now known that the influences of this style actually extended towards the Ancient Greeks. They have also been separated into different styles, mainly as either wax paintings or tempera portraits.
Encaustic portraits would be used for the richer people and these are chiefly the ones that have been preserved the best until today. The high quality of these portraits as well as the great weather conditions in Egypt worked towards maintaining their vivid colors and deliver the paintings to today's scholars almost untouched. Very little faded and their beauty is still as distinctive.
Fayum art is globally admired. The portraits of this style are vivid, exciting and at the same realistic, which is what makes them so different and beautiful. Being the mark of an impressive artistic period, these paintings showcase the great skills of those highly talented ancient Egyptian artists. fayum art
Since it emerged out of Egypt, the name and the artwork itself has come to mean a great deal more. It has created a reputation for itself, representing an inspired time in the world of the arts. It started out around the first century BC and ended during the Byzantine period, by which time it has been significantly altered.
In the beginning, the Egyptian people would make use of these boards by covering the mummies in preparation of the burial. After they had been prepared, the painting would be placed on top of the head. This is why each portrait just details the face and nothing below.
Nowadays, the majority of these portraits have been extracted from their original resting places for the sake of examination. It is now known that the influences of this style actually extended towards the Ancient Greeks. They have also been separated into different styles, mainly as either wax paintings or tempera portraits.
Encaustic portraits would be used for the richer people and these are chiefly the ones that have been preserved the best until today. The high quality of these portraits as well as the great weather conditions in Egypt worked towards maintaining their vivid colors and deliver the paintings to today's scholars almost untouched. Very little faded and their beauty is still as distinctive.
Fayum art is globally admired. The portraits of this style are vivid, exciting and at the same realistic, which is what makes them so different and beautiful. Being the mark of an impressive artistic period, these paintings showcase the great skills of those highly talented ancient Egyptian artists. fayum art
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