Investigating a posthumous portrait of Augustus in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Abstract

From the time the head of Augustus discussed in this paper appeared in an eighteenth-century collection, a precise date for its manufacture has eluded scholars of Roman portraiture, although most agree it is a posthumous image of the emperor. The formal and technical features of the piece are examined here, as well as its provenance, in order to determine a more reliable date for the creation of this significant work. The stylistic features of the Augustus do not conform to any consistent ancient category, although every period from Caligulan to Antonine has been suggested for a date of manufacture. The blending of various styles, the rococo treatment of the hair, and other technical details ultimately demonstrate a modern date for the portrait. The conclusion reached here is that the Augustus is not, in fact, an ancient Roman portrait, but an all'antica work created in the workshop of the eighteenth-century sculptor Bartolomeo Cavaceppi. The head was artificially aged through burial and superficial damage in order to appear ancient and therefore more desirable. Problems associated with scientific methods of testing ancient sculpture in stone - the examination of root marks and marble isotopes - are also addressed.