Artwork
Funerary Portrait of a Young Girl
Funerary Portrait of a Young Girl is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 31 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This small panel painting depicts a young girl with dark hair, adorned in golden jewelry and with gold-painted lips, wearing a white tunic against a plain red background.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown with attributes suggesting a blend of cultural influences. The gold lips and jewelry may symbolize the transformation of the deceased into an effective spirit, or akh, in accordance with ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Technique & Style
The painting combines elements of Egyptian and Roman artistic traditions. The use of gold for lips and jewelry reflects Egyptian funerary practices, while the girl's clothing and hairstyle indicate an adoption of Hellenic or Greco-Roman styles prevalent in Egypt at the time.
Context
The artwork reflects the cultural syncretism present in Egypt during the period of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine rule, from 305 BCE to 641 CE. The persistence of Egyptian burial customs alongside the adoption of Roman fashion and aesthetics is evident in the painting.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
