Historical figures such as Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci are household names.
Nevertheless, these figures often feel like part of a distant past full of people we can barely imagine.
That is how graphic designer Becca Saladin felt several years ago.
An unknown man from a Fayum mummy portrait, personalized wooden mummy boards use din burials of upperclass mummies in Roman Egypt.
Saladin began modernizing images in 2018.
Using stock images and Photoshop, the designer morphs each face and adjusts the clothing for each figure.
This attention to detail is part of what makesRoyalty Nowsuch a fascinating project.
Saladin has honed her technical skillscreating over 70 modernizations.
Usually the eyes, nose, and mouth are all bits of different images!
This laborious process results in photo-real images with a striking resemblance to the historical portrait.
Not all modernizations are of heroes though.
The 16th-century Hungarian CountessElizabeth Bathoryis modernized, her dark eyes and pursed lips still hiding the brutal murderess inside.
Some portraits are even anonymoussuch as the young man painted on a woodenFayum mummy board.
About 2,000 years later, his soulful expression seems as alive as you or I.
To stay up to date on Saladin’sRoyalty Nowproject, follow herwebsiteandInstagram.
Becca Saladin modernizes historical figures in a series titledRoyalty Now.
Scroll down for a look at some of her best work.
