Maslow's pyramid shows various tiers that govern goal setting and motivation, with the top tier reserved for self actualization. Probably nothing reflects this desire as well as art. Art may be a luxury, but it seems as essential to human existence as breathing or eating. Fayum art is a good example of desire to remain immortal even after death, and remains a rich source of information for many historians.
This kind of art dates back to the Coptic period, when Egypt was a vassal state of Rome. It was characterized by very naturalistic paintings which were done on panels, then attached to boards, and fixed on mummies. While the paintings have been found all over Egypt, most pieces have been recovered from the famous Faiyum Basin, a natural feature that has lent its name to the art form.
The complex portraits covered the faces of bodies which had been mummified. Because of similarities in certain aspects of their style, archaeologists suspect that the images are not accurate representations of the bodies they were fixed to. The paintings usually show the head alone, or combine that with a frontal view of the upper portion of the body. Surprisingly, the images show Greek and Roman influences, rather than Egyptian ones.
These paintings were done using one of the two techniques; en-caustic or tempera. The former involves the use of hot beeswax mixed with coloring matter; the heated mixture is then applied to wax, wood or any other suitable substrate. In some cases, oil-based paints, linseed oil and other materials may be added. The mix may be worked while hot using special brushes or other implements. Another option is to let it cool, and then use heated metal instruments to shape it.
While encaustic paints were high quality, they were not as durable as those made with a competing technique, tempera. This involves the use of a binder that can dissolve in water, such as egg yolk, mixed with suitable coloring matter. The result can then be applied to a suitable substrate. If egg yolk is used, the end product is sometimes referred to as egg tempera. The use of this method declined and then ceased after the discovery of oil paints.
With about nine hundred pieces recovered so far, the pieces reflect virtually no Egyptian artistic traditions, instead showing a lot of Greek and Roman influences. The two nationalities formed a large bulk of the Egyptian upper class at the time. The paintings look almost as good as the day they were painted; the hot, dry climate has protected them from damage.
Most people in the ancient world had extremely short lifespans; this is because the germ theory of disease was unknown then, and a lot of people died from conditions and diseases that are easy to treat in the contemporary world. A lot of paintings from city Basin reflect this fact, as they mostly depict children and young people.
From the beginning of the third century, the art form began to fade; the latest piece discovered is dated to the middle of that century. Archaeologists have attributed this to several things, but a decline in traditional religions seems to be the biggest culprit. Granting of Roman citizenship to virtually all Egyptians, and a severe economic crisis all served to hasten the end of fayum art.
This kind of art dates back to the Coptic period, when Egypt was a vassal state of Rome. It was characterized by very naturalistic paintings which were done on panels, then attached to boards, and fixed on mummies. While the paintings have been found all over Egypt, most pieces have been recovered from the famous Faiyum Basin, a natural feature that has lent its name to the art form.
The complex portraits covered the faces of bodies which had been mummified. Because of similarities in certain aspects of their style, archaeologists suspect that the images are not accurate representations of the bodies they were fixed to. The paintings usually show the head alone, or combine that with a frontal view of the upper portion of the body. Surprisingly, the images show Greek and Roman influences, rather than Egyptian ones.
These paintings were done using one of the two techniques; en-caustic or tempera. The former involves the use of hot beeswax mixed with coloring matter; the heated mixture is then applied to wax, wood or any other suitable substrate. In some cases, oil-based paints, linseed oil and other materials may be added. The mix may be worked while hot using special brushes or other implements. Another option is to let it cool, and then use heated metal instruments to shape it.
While encaustic paints were high quality, they were not as durable as those made with a competing technique, tempera. This involves the use of a binder that can dissolve in water, such as egg yolk, mixed with suitable coloring matter. The result can then be applied to a suitable substrate. If egg yolk is used, the end product is sometimes referred to as egg tempera. The use of this method declined and then ceased after the discovery of oil paints.
With about nine hundred pieces recovered so far, the pieces reflect virtually no Egyptian artistic traditions, instead showing a lot of Greek and Roman influences. The two nationalities formed a large bulk of the Egyptian upper class at the time. The paintings look almost as good as the day they were painted; the hot, dry climate has protected them from damage.
Most people in the ancient world had extremely short lifespans; this is because the germ theory of disease was unknown then, and a lot of people died from conditions and diseases that are easy to treat in the contemporary world. A lot of paintings from city Basin reflect this fact, as they mostly depict children and young people.
From the beginning of the third century, the art form began to fade; the latest piece discovered is dated to the middle of that century. Archaeologists have attributed this to several things, but a decline in traditional religions seems to be the biggest culprit. Granting of Roman citizenship to virtually all Egyptians, and a severe economic crisis all served to hasten the end of fayum art.
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