Between the living and the dead: use, reuse, and imitation of painted portraits in Late Antiquity

Abstract Painted portraits on wood and cloth were common in the ancient world prized as authentic lifelike images. Affordable, portable, desirable, they an important form of representation, but rarely survive archaeological record outside Egypt. This article approaches study painted portraiture a way that does not necessitate survival images themselves. It analyzes evidence for use, reuse, imitation catacombs 4th-c. Rome by examining remains settings attachments portraits, shadows left them walls, other media which imitate panel paintings. The considers why so effective funerary contexts what connection may have had to domestic portraiture. also explores development portrait through phenomenon “square nimbus.”