Portrait Head of Augustus
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Portrait Head of Augustus” now? Getty Villa, Getty Villa, Gallery 209, Early Roman Sculpture, Los Angeles. Yes, on view now. Checked October 5, 2026.
Closed· opens tomorrow at 10:00 AM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the sculpture
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.
Getty Villa
Details
- Accession number
- 78.AA.261
In the catalog
Sources
- Getty Villa
- Image: Getty Villa — J. Paul Getty Museum (Open Content)
