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John William Godward (1861-1922) “In the Grove of the Temple of Isis” (1915) Oil on canvas Neoclassical Currently in a private collection Isis was originally a deity central to the mythology of ancient Egypt, the daughter of Geb the god of the earth, and Nut the goddess of the sky, but was later adopted by the Romans during their expansion. Isis was identified with fertility and re-birth thus her temples and shrines were sacred to femininity.

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MWW Artwork of the Day (2/24/21) Roman Egypt (1st-3rd c. CE) Portrait of a Young Woman in Red (c. 90–120 CE) Encaustic on limewood w/ gold leaf, 38.1 x 18.4 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Rogers Fund)

The truly multicultural population in the cities of Roman Egypt provided a fertile ground for phenomena such as the painted panel portraits on mummies. In their artistic style and technique, the portraits on wood panels followed the Greek painting tradition of depicting the subject in three-quarter view, with a single light source casting realistic shadows and highlights on the face. The background of this portrait here was originally gilded, emphasizing the divine status of the deceased young woman. She looks at the viewer with large serious eyes, accentuated by long lashes. A mass of loose curls covers her head, and some strands fall along the back of her neck on the left side. Framed by the black hair, deeply shadowed neck, and dark red tunic, her brightly lit face stands out in appealing youthfulness, an impression that is heightened by the gold wreath and sparkling jewelry. (from the MMA catalog)