Augustus van Prima Porta c. 1863 - 1900

This is a photograph of the sculpture Augustus of Prima Porta, made by an anonymous artist. Although the date of the photograph is unknown, the original sculpture was crafted from marble, a traditional and highly valued material in Roman art. Marble possesses inherent qualities that make it ideal for sculpture. Its fine grain allows for intricate detail, as we can see in the emperor's meticulously rendered armor and drapery. The process of carving marble is labor-intensive, requiring skilled artisans to extract the stone from quarries, transport it, and then shape it using various tools. In the Roman world, such labor would have been carried out primarily by enslaved peoples. Augustus's pose, with its raised hand and dignified bearing, communicates power and authority. The extensive manual work involved in its creation underscores the value placed on imperial imagery. Understanding the material and making of this artwork invites us to consider the social and political context in which it was produced, blurring the lines between fine art and craft.