Join conservator Haddon Dine and exhibition co-curator Georgina Rayner for a virtual conversation about the manufacturing processes of three-dimensional funerary portraits in Roman-period Egypt.

"Funerary Portraits from Roman Egypt: Facing Forward" is a collaborative effort drawing from the expertise of staff across the museums and other members of our community. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect upon objects that represent the deceased and were once intimately connected with their bodies. It foregrounds artistic processes and technical research but also draws attention to the complicated histories of these objects.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK:
+ Fragmentary Portrait (Mummy Mask) of a Man, Late 2nd-early 3rd century CE, Egyptian Roman Imperial Period. Plaster with remains of paint and glass inlays. Harvard Art Museums, Gift of Dr. Robert Waelder, 1965.551. https://hvrd.art/o/287345
+ Explore more via the exhibition digital tool: https://harvardartmuseums.org/tour/fu...

SPEAKERS:
+ Haddon Dine, Assistant Objects Conservator, Art Institute of Chicago, former Objects Conservation Fellow, Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies at the Harvard Art Museums;
+ Georgina Rayner, Associate Conservation Scientist, Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museums

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Land Acknowledgement
00:30 - Introduction with Georgina Rayner
01:25 - Introduction of Haddon Dine
01:50 - 3D Funerary Portraits of Roman-period Egypt
03:27 - Technical Studies on 3D Funerary Portraits
05:39 - How was the portrait made?
07:07 - Technical Imaging (UV fluorescence)
09:00 - How was the portrait constructed?
17:30 - Locating similar portraits
19:56 - Q&A with audience
20:56 - Ancient Plaster Analysis
24:28 - Egyptian Blue
26:05 - Reverse Painted Glass Techniques (eyes)
27:58 - Unexpected Discoveries

Support for this exhibition is provided by the Kelekian Fund, the Christopher and Jean Angell Charitable Fund, and the Kornfeld Foundation (through Christopher Angell). Related programming is supported by the M. Victor Leventritt Lecture Series Endowment Fund.

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All images and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and this channel does not claim any right over them. Copyright Disclaimer: Any use of copyrighted content on this channel constitutes “fair use” pursuant to 17 U.S. Code § 107 as it is utilized for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.

Video Thumbnail: Richard Pollack, entomologist for Harvard Environmental Health and Safety, examing ancient mud dauber wasp nest remnants on 2nd century-CE 'Fragmentary Portrait of a Man' (1965.551) in the Objects Lab of the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies, Harvard Art Museums.© President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Recorded November 9, 2022. © President and Fellows of Harvard College. For questions related to permission for commercial use of this video, please contact the Department of Digital Imaging and Visual Resources at [email protected].

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