Iaia of Cyzicus, Self-portrait

Iaia of Cyzicus was a Greek painter who lived around the first century BC. She gained fame for her artistic skills during a time when women artists were rare, although not unheard of, since Pliny mentions several of them.

According to Pliny, Iaia was renowned for her swift hand in painting. She specialized in portraits of women and was particularly noted for two works: a panel painting of an elderly woman and a self-portrait. Her speed and superior technique allowed her to command higher prices than her male contemporaries.

Iaia likely moved to Rome to take advantage of the city's thriving art market during the late Roman Republic.

What could this particular self-portrait have looked like? We have a lot of female portraits in ancient paintings, whether from the Fayum mummies, or from Pompeii and Herculaneum. A mix of them seems the least implausible option.