Benedetto Boschetti

(Roma, 1820 - Roma, 1879)

Attributed to

The marble sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta, now in the Vatican Museums in Rome, was excavated in 1863 from Villa of Livia, Augustus' wife, in the Prima Porta district. Also called Augustus Loricato because of detailed armor (lorica), this sculpture was often translated into bronze during the Grand Tour period.

In this version of the subject, the detailed reproduction of the relief decoration present on the lorica is very fine. Equally meticulous is the rendering of the drapery and the description of the facial features and hands.Although not signed, this statuette certainly comes from one of the best Roman foundries of the 19th century, probably that of Benedetto Boschetti, who specialized in the reproduction of classical sculptures.

In the part below the pedestal are the pin and small handle that allowed the sculpture to be rotated according to daily light. This is also a typical detail of Boschetti's production.