An Omen of the Future Greatness of Augustus c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have "An Omen of the Future Greatness of Augustus," a work by Giulio Bonasone, who lived from 1510 to 1576. Editor: It feels like a dream… all these delicate lines swirling around, it's like a memory being etched onto the world. Curator: Bonasone was working within a complex visual and political landscape. This print participates in the construction of Augustus as a divinely appointed ruler, drawing on classical themes. Editor: That figure in the clouds, riding the chariot, it's so theatrical. It really brings the piece to life, giving it an almost operatic quality. Curator: Exactly. And consider the figures clustered around the infant, they’re enacting a kind of recognition, almost a prophecy of the greatness to come by interpreting the omens. The tower, too, evokes classical authority. Editor: It's a lot to take in! It’s like watching a play unfold, and the characters are these beautifully rendered figures frozen in time. Curator: It asks us to consider how power is legitimized through narratives of destiny and divine favor. Editor: Right. I’m definitely left pondering the different ways we tell stories about ourselves.