Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Ancient Egyptian mummy portrait restored before first trip abroad
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo restored the Tondo of the Two Brothers, an ancient portrait painted on a wooden board.
It dates to the 2nd century and is one of the Fayum portraits, paintings made for the mummies of elite people in Roman-era Egypt.
Termite damage had worn away some details, and earlier repairs had misplaced parts of a figure’s mouth and chin.
Egyptian and Italian conservators worked together for three weeks to recover details and correct earlier repairs.
The portrait has never left Egypt, but it is now due to travel to Rome for an exhibition at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis.
The show opens on November 5 and will include nearly 60 works, with loans from institutions including the Louvre; the restoration also supports the preservation and study of cultural heritage.
The Tondo of the Two Brothers, an ancient Egyptian mummy portrait, has been restored ahead of its first trip abroad.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo worked with Italian conservators from Rome’s Museo dell’Ara Pacis on the restoration.
The work addressed damage caused by termites and corrected earlier retouching errors.
The portrait is due to go on show in Rome from November 5 as part of an exhibition featuring nearly 60 works.
- Who
- The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and conservators from Rome’s Museo dell’Ara Pacis restored the portrait.
- What
- The Tondo of the Two Brothers was restored before its first trip outside Egypt.
- When
- The restoration took three weeks. The exhibition opens on November 5; the year is not stated.
- Where
- The restoration took place at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The portrait is due to go to the Museo dell’Ara Pacis in Rome.
- Why
- The restoration prepared the portrait for an exhibition and addressed termite damage and errors from earlier touch-ups.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Italian conservators restored the portrait, addressing termite damage and earlier touch-up errors.
The exhibition “The Power of Portraiture: Egypt and Rome: Faces of Fayum” is due to open at the Museo dell’Ara Pacis in Rome.
- Date
- The portrait dates to the 2nd century.
- Restoration duration
- Three weeks
- Restoration site
- Egyptian Museum, Cairo
- Exhibition venue
- Museo dell’Ara Pacis, Rome
- Exhibition opening
- November 5
- Exhibition size
- Nearly 60 works
What people are saying
The restoration of the Tondo of the Two Brothers is an important example of what can be achieved through international cooperation in the preservation and study of cultural heritage.
Egypt and Italy share deep historical and cultural ties, and this project brings together Egyptian and Italian expertise to preserve an exceptional work of art for future generations.
Sources
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