PUSHKIN MUSEUM, Fayum Portraits Room 3

One of the most interesting exhibitions in the Pushkin Museum is the comprehensive section dedicated to ancient Egypt. Most of the objects, including mummies, vases and statues, have been on display since the museum opened in 1912 and come from Vladimir Golenishchev's collection. His was one of the best private collections of Egyptian art in the world, and was acquired by the museum in 1909.

The highlight of the exhibition are the Fayum Portraits: a series of 16 funeral portraits, mostly painted on wooden boards, that covered the faces of some mummies. The name comes from the Egyptian town of Fayum, where most of the works are from. The importance of these portraits lies not only in their marked realism, but also in the fact that they are among the best-preserved examples of ancient painting....