The Mausoleum of Augustus 1641

Curator: Here we have Giacomo Lauro's print of "The Mausoleum of Augustus," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The print captures the grandeur of the ancient Roman monument. Editor: It has a strange allure. The stark lines and classical architecture evoke a sense of imperial power, but also a subtle feeling of loss, doesn't it? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the politics of imagery here: Lauro presents an idealized vision, reinforcing Augustus’s legacy centuries later, despite its decay. The mausoleum symbolized Roman authority, which artists like Lauro often used to reflect on power dynamics within their own societies. Editor: So, in a way, the print becomes a dialogue between the past and the present, echoing Augustus's power in a new era, though perhaps unintentionally critiquing its relevance? Curator: Precisely! It highlights how historical narratives are continuously reshaped and reinterpreted through art. Editor: Thinking about it that way, the image reveals as much about Lauro's time as it does about Augustu's.