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Portrait Head of Augustus (Back)

Unknown

The J. Paul Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum
Los Angeles, United States

After many years of civil war, Augustus took complete power in Rome in 27 B.C. He claimed that he was re-establishing the Roman Republic, but he actually founded the Roman Empire. Visual signs emphasizing its power and legitimacy bolstered this new political order.



Portraits of Augustus served as symbols of his political agenda rather than corresponding to his physical features as described in written sources. Augustus is always shown in an ideal, classicizing style, and his appearance bears little relation to his actual age. One constant feature of Augustus's portraits is his hairstyle, with its distinctive forked locks of hair on his forehead.

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  • Title: Portrait Head of Augustus (Back)
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: 25–1 B.C.
  • Location Created: Roman Empire
  • Physical Dimensions: 39 × 21 × 24 cm (15 3/8 × 8 1/4 × 9 7/16 in.)
  • Type: Male portrait
  • External Link: Find out more about this object on the Museum website.
  • Medium: Marble
  • Terms of Use: Open Content
  • Number: 78.AA.261
  • Culture: Roman
  • Credit Line: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California
  • Creator Display Name: Unknown
  • Classification: Sculpture (Visual Works)
The J. Paul Getty Museum

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