| The Fayyum Mummy Portraits
The dry desert air of Egypt preserved a collection of encaustic portraits of men and women, which were originally placed over their mummified faces on their sarcophagi.These date between the first and third centuries AD. |
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| The impact of this style of realism with an emphasis on the eyes is clearly seen in the development of early icons, especially in the traditionof the Egyptian Coptic Christians. At far left Abbot Menas of Bawit Monastery stands with Christ in this 6th-century Coptic icon (57x57 cm) |   |
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| The Projecta Casket
This silver and gilt box with finely chased repoussee figures of pagan mythological provenance was a wedding gift to Projecta and Secundus, her husband. It was found as part of a hoard on Rome's Esquiline Hill in 1793. It was created about 380. |
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| Despite its pagan decoration, the dedication inscribed on the box, wishes to Projecta and Secundus "...may you livein Christ." This juxtapposition of the pagan and the Christian shows a surprising if not unusual level of comfort with this kind of syncretism. |  |
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| Constantine's Image
The imperial image embodied the power and authority of the Empire. With Constantine, the emperor was no longer divine, but he did retain a spiritual quality and majesty that remained unrivalled on Earth, as both his portrait and Column show. |
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| Theodosius' Column, Constantinople
Though the column itself is destroyed, the base provides a fine example of courtly reception of a defeated enemy's tribute. The hierarchical, frontal and static quality of the court is in contrast to the bowing and scraping enemy. |
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| The Rubens Vase and
Antioch Chalice |
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| The Monza Ampules or Flasks
These small containers were used to carry oil from the lamps that burned around the holy shrines of the Holy Land. At left is one depicting the Veneration of the True Cross, at right the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. |
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| The Riha & Stuma Patens
Both of these silver plates were used in Eucharistic services to hold the bread, show the theme of the Communion of the Apostles, were probably made in Constantinople,a nd date from the 570s. How do they differ? |
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| Painted and Gilt Glass
Pagan Romans and Roman Christians decorated the bottoms of glass vessels by placing a layer of painted material or gold foil between two layers of glass. The example at right is one of several with Saints Peter and Paul. At left is a family portrait, now in Brescia, from about AD 400. |
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