After the Audience, Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1879)
The person going up the stairs is Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa - a general, statesman, architect, and close friend of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor from 27 BC. Agrippa is moving through his impressive villa, away from the people making requests and offering gifts on the landing below. The image captures every detail, from the dramatic flow of Agrippa’s red cape and the vast marble floors to the items laid over the tiger skin. The crowd on the right shows the artist’s skill in capturing different emotions.
In the foreground, there’s a sculpture of Augustus, symbolizing power and authority. It’s based on the famous ‘Augustus of Prima Porta,’ rediscovered in 1863, highlighting Alma-Tadema’s effort to keep his work both current and historically accurate.
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