Style

The similarities between portraits is unavoidable, and there have been a few hypotheses as to why this is. One is that there were workshops in which multiple artists worked off of premade templates, while another is that a customer could walk into a portrait shop and leave with a portrait that looked somewhat like them or how they wished to be represented. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing definitively if either of these is correct. 

While it is still unclear as to how these portraits came to look so alike, scholars have found that by analyzing the hair, facial features, and accessories in these portraits, they can give each painting a date with some accuracy. Many scholars are still astounded by just how lifelike some of the mummy portraits are, and are still seeking to understand the truth behind these exquisite paintings.