Glass cameo: head of Augustus
Unknown Artist
early 1st century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Height: 1 1/8in. (2.9cm)
Classification
Gems|Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early Imperial, Tiberian
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
Accession Number
74.51.4297
Tags
About this artwork
This glass cameo presents the head of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, created in the early 1st century CE during the Tiberian period. The cameo shows the emperor's profile with idealized features characteristic of official Augustan portraiture, carved in relief from layered glass to create contrast between the figure and background. The portrait captures Augustus's distinctive physiognomy while conforming to the classicizing aesthetic promoted during his reign. Glass cameos represent a specia...