Object Description
Large antique sculpted marble figure of Caesar Augustus
Italian, early 20th Century
Height 186cm, width 118cm, depth 44cm
Known as the ‘Augustus of Prima Porta,’ the original bronze version of this sculpture was created c. 20 BCE. That original has been lost since antiquity but is known today from a marble copy made a decade or two after the creation of the original. That marble, which now resides in the Vatican Museums, has inspired countless reproductions, of which this marble version is a fine example.
The statue depicts Augustus at the height of his power. Augustus reigned the newly created Roman Empire from 27 BCE until 14 CE, when he died. This statue, which depicts him gesturing towards his successful troops, celebrates Augustus’ many military victories.