A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS

CIRCA LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C.-EARLY 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT HEAD OF THE EMPEROR AUGUSTUS
CIRCA LATE 1ST CENTURY B.C.-EARLY 1ST CENTURY A.D.
Depicted lifesized, the Emperor with finely-modelled features, the oval head with strong cheekbones, his fleshy bow-shaped mouth with the lips pressed together, the corners indented, the filtrum indicated, the naso-labial lines subtly indicated, his almond-shaped convex lidded eyes unarticulated and slightly recessed, two small diagonal lines above the bridge of his nose accentuating his knitted brows, a single shallow crease across the broad forehead, the layered hair composed of a mass of short comma-shaped locks, with the three characteristic locks at the center of his forehead, two parted at the center and one to his right, a single lock curving forward in front of each ear
10¾ in. (27.3 cm.) high

Provenance

American Private Collection, 1980s.

Lot Essay

The three comma-shaped locks parted at the center of Augustus's forehead, such as we have here, are characteristic of the Primaporta portrait type, recognized on the famous example found at the villa of his wife Livia at Primaporta. However, the furrowed and knitted brow on the present example contradicts the idealized and ageless classical features associated with the Primaporta type. As such the Emperor is here presented as a powerful and determined military man, an iconography more commonly associated with the earlier Actium portrait type created after the battle of Actium when Augustus became sole ruler of the Roman world. For a discussion on the varying portrait types of Augustus see pp. 61-69 in Kleiner, Roman Sculpture.

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