2-730-117 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Funerary Portrait of a Woman, c. 138-192. So-called mummy portraits were apparently painted during the owners lives and hung in their homes. At the time of the owner's death, the portrait was taken down, cut from its frame, and trimmed to fit the deceased's mummy, to which it was bound. It was at that time also that the gilding on the center painting was added.