1995.82, Mummy portrait, Egyptian, Roman Period, late second century C.E.

The idea of the mummy mask, which was placed over the embalmed and shrouded body of a dead person, goes back in Egyptian art to the Middle Kingdom (early 2nd millennium B.C.E). Even earlier, "reserve heads," or magical portraits of the dead person, were left in Old Kingdom tombs. The mummy mask took different forms over the long course of Egyptian art, but retained the idea of an impersonation of the dead person. During the period of Greek rule in Egypt, mummy masks were made in the form of Hellenistic Greek portraiture. Under the Roman Empire, in the first three centuries A.D., the realistic character of Roman portraiture is reflected in mummy masks, as it is in the painted encaustic over wood portraits from the Faiyum. This head is essentially a Roman imperial portrait, though it has underlying funerary symbolism inherited from the Egyptian cult of the dead. The woman wears recognizable types of late second-century CE earrings and necklace, similar examples of which are in the DMA's ancient jewelry collection (1996. 35.A-B) and (1995.26). 

Before 1995: Dolores Kamer, Atlanta, Georgia, by inheritance [1]

Until 1995: Michael Ward Gallery, New York, New York, purchased from above [2]

From 1995: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from above

[1] See check #4970 in Collections Records Object File

[2] See copy of fax transmission from Michael Ward to Anne Bromberg, December 7, 1995

Apply to objects where number equals 1995.82