Rome:Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathi announced that restoration work on the "Tondo of the Two Brothers" painting has been completed as part of a collaborative effort between Egypt and Italy. This painting is one of the most admired portraits from Egypt's Roman era.

According to Qatar News Agency, the restoration project exemplifies global collaboration in preserving art and culture, allowing Egyptian and Italian experts to exchange valuable experiences during the process. This encaustic painting, notable for its unusual circular shape and the inclusion of two figures, measures approximately 62 centimeters in diameter and is less than one centimeter thick.

For the first time in history, the "Tondo of the Two Brothers" will leave Egypt to be displayed in a temporary exhibition titled "The Power of the Portrait Egypt and Rome, Faces of Fayum" at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome. The exhibition will run from November 5, 2026, to May 2, 2027.

Fayum portraits, like the "Tondo of the Two Brothers," are known for their personal nature and were typically painted on wood. These artworks were traditionally placed over the faces of the deceased, wrapped in mummy linens, reflecting a blend of Egyptian funerary customs and Greek/Roman artistic influences.