Augustus At Prima Porta Analysis

The two concepts, idealism and realism merge together to form the concept of idealistic-realism. Idealism in art, is the poetization and spirituatualzation of a theme, belief and ethos, realism on the other hand is the act of recreating any scene, object or action in the form art. The concept of idealism at a deeper glance is the comprehension of the idea or ideal created by the artist, and was the foundation of all great Greek and Renaissance art. Augustus of Prime Porta is a great example of the peaceful co-existence of idealism and realism, since the sculpture is ideal and conceptual in its composition and realistic in its execution. The marble statue of Augustus at Prima Porta was discovered in the villa of Livia in Prima Porta and was constructed to celebrate the Roman triumph over the Parthians in 20 B.C. It is the sculpture of a handsome and young ruler, namely, Augustus, sporting an ornamented cuirass and a tunic, with the figure of Cupid riding a dolphin on his side. The face reflects a youthful emperor, even though Augustus was about forty years of age when the statue was built. The Prima Porta style of facial composition comprises of, an expansive skull and slim chin, sharp-ridged eyebrows, hooked nose and a plump mouth and his hair is crowned with what is termed the Primaporta hairstyle. The breastplate is adorned with characters and is a composite of the narration of the Augustan and Tiberian propaganda, while he is barefoot. His right hand is