Restored Fayoum Portrait Set for First International Exhibition in Rome

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the completion of a three-week conservation project on the “Tondo of the Two Brothers,” a rare 2nd-century CE circular portrait from the Fayoum mummy series. Specialists from Italy worked alongside conservators at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir to stabilize a wooden panel damaged by termites and to revive pigments applied with the ancient encaustic technique. The restored work was publicly displayed in Cairo in October 2026, marking the first public showing of the piece after its conservation.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration The IndependentWhy Egypt Is Finally Sending Its Rare Fayoum Portraits Overs — Geosirius

Fayoum portraits are thin wooden panels painted in encaustic (pigments mixed with hot wax) and placed over the faces of mummified individuals. Produced in the Roman-era Fayoum Oasis southwest of Cairo, they blend Egyptian funerary customs with Greco-Roman artistic styles, offering realistic depictions of everyday residents rather than idealized deities or pharaohs. The “Tondo of the Two Brothers” is unusual for its circular format and dual figures, contrasting with the typical single-subject panels.

Why Egypt Is Finally Sending Its Rare Fayoum Portraits Overs — Geosirius Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration The Independent

• Sherif Fathy – Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

• Aly Abdel Halim – Director General of the Egyptian Museum, Tahrir.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

• Italian conservation team – Unnamed specialists from Rome collaborating on the restoration.

Tondo of the Two Brothers restored on display in Rome from November

• Tomaso Radaelli – Chairman of MondoMostre, organizer of the Rome exhibition.

Tondo of the Two Brothers restored on display in Rome from November

• Early 2026 – Three-week joint restoration undertaken in Cairo.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

• October 2026 – Restored “Tondo of the Two Brothers” unveiled to the public in Cairo.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

• November 2026 – May 2027 – Exhibition of the restored work and over 110 additional Fayoum artifacts in Rome.

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

The Rome showcase will feature more than 110 objects, including painted mummy shrouds, funerary masks, marble portraits, plaster casts, and ancient jewelry. Admission follows standard museum pricing with discounts for visitors under 25 and seniors. The exhibition is located at the main branch of the Rome museum on Piazza di S. Pantaleo.

The Independent

Aly Abdel Halim noted the delicate condition of the wooden support and painted surface, explaining that careful intervention was required to prevent further loss.

The Independent

• “The restoration of the Tondo of the Two Brothers is an important example of what can be achieved through international cooperation in the preservation and study of cultural heritage,” — Sherif Fathy, antiquities minister

Egypt’s Fayoum mummy portraits to travel abroad for first time after restoration

The loan represents Egypt’s first export of Fayoum portraits, signaling a shift from a long-standing policy of keeping such artifacts in-country. Transporting fragile wooden panels abroad poses logistical challenges—humidity fluctuations can cause wood to expand, and vibrations may dislodge pigments. By partnering with Italian experts, Egypt aims to broaden global research access, boost cultural tourism, and attract international funding for future conservation initiatives. The exhibition also serves as a form of cultural diplomacy, showcasing shared heritage between Egypt and Italy.

Why Egypt Is Finally Sending Its Rare Fayoum Portraits Overs — Geosirius