Portrait of a Woman

Basics

Date – Unkown Place – House VI.15.14

Pompeii in the centre of the paved floor of a cubiculum

Size – an emblema of 25.5 cm by 20.5 cm

ContentSerious young woman, whose dress and jewellery suggest a person of high social standing

Wearing tunic and white cloak with fringe of gold and purple embroidery

Gold and pearl earrings

Almost matching necklace

Worried look and parted lips suggest about to speak – vivacity to portrait

Parted hair in middle and pulled back give a somewhat severe appearance

Content

Identity unknown, but may have been mistress of the house, but the positioning in the bedroom floor seems to refute this

May have been someone of standing in community

Because an emblema could have been uplifted and sited somewhere else – woman could be unknown to household

Egypt?

StyleCan be compared with painting of Terentius Neo and his wife

Frontal aspect (not fully)

Serious expression

Plain background Shadow to

right of nose – light coming from left

Subtle gradations of light and dark on cheeks, mouth, eyes and chin