Print on handmade Amalfi paper Size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in) Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges Frame: light brown beech wood, handmade
This work by Bernardino Campi, entitled "Portrait of the Emperor Octavian Augustus", is a fine example of Renaissance portraiture reflecting the revival of interest in classical antiquity typical of the period. The upright posture and firm grip on the spear evoke the Roman virtue of 'auctoritas'. The subject wears a purple toga, a detail that conveys not only social status but also an almost divine aura, since Augustus was venerated as a demigod after his death. The nonchalant way he holds a terrestrial globe is a subtle allusion to his dominion over the known world. The artist has skilfully rendered the texture of the fabric and the complexity of the drapery, adding a sense of depth and volume to the painting. With a background that fades into a cloudy sky, Campi places his subject between men and gods, a union of heaven and earth that characterises many of the great leaders of the past.
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