Marble portrait of the emperor Augustus
When Octavian took the title of Augustus in 27 B.C., an official portrait was created that embodied the qualities he wished to project, and hundreds of versions of it were disseminated throughout the Empire. The features are individualized, but the overall effect is of calm, elevated dignity and brings to mind Classical Greek art of the fifth century B.C. With this studied understatement, the portraits could evoke the values of the glorious past of Athens and at the same time present the emperor simply as primus inter pares, first among equals.
Artwork Details
- Title: Marble portrait of the emperor Augustus
- Period: Early Imperial, Julio-Claudian
- Date: ca. 14–37 CE
- Culture: Roman
- Medium: Marble
- Dimensions: 11in. (27.9cm)
- Classification: Stone Sculpture
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1908
- Object Number: 08.258.47
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
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Roman
1st–2nd century CE
Roman
212–217 CE
Roman
ca. 14–37 CE
Roman
ca. 138–192 CE
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1st–2nd century CE
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