Kleiner, “The Portraiture of Augustus” Article Review.

The article dwells on the major peculiarities of Augustus Octavian portraying in the Roman art. The representation of Augustus and imperial family in numismatics, precious cameos, in sculptural portraits served a perfect device of political propaganda. The coins supported his reigning as the heir of Caesar. Kleiner, “The Portraiture of Augustus” Article Review.

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The author skillfully justifies that Augustus portraiture does not suggest realistic likeness. First, the emperor was always depicted young even at his death age of 76. Despite the prevailing images of the emperor as a likeable person who resisted aging, the historical work of Suetonius describes Augustus as an unattractive man. Then, most images were created by the court artists who must have embellished the representation of the emperor. The rest of the world could not contrast reality and fiction, as they had no possibility to see Augustus with their own eyes. Within Augustan official portraiture and relief sculpture, the emperor appeared in his various roles (powerful emperor and commander, perfect orator, and a person of the divine origin). These roles revealed three dominating themes in propagandist art: military victory, divine descent, peace and prosperity. Kleiner, “The Portraiture of Augustus” Article Review.