Virgil reading The Aeneid before Augustus, Livia and Octavia
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres · 1811
Why it's great
The Roman poet Virgil reads his epic poem aloud before the emperor Augustus and his family, and the sister, Octavia, faints with grief at the mention of her dead son. Ingres painted the emotional scene with clear, classical lines. It's a tribute to the power of poetry. It's a famous and moving painting.
🏛️ Part of history
Cleopatra, Antony & the Rise of the Empire (44 BC – 14 AD) — Augustus, the first emperor, listens as the poet Virgil reads from the Aeneid, the epic that celebrates Rome's origins.
Where to see it
📍 Musée des AugustinsToulouse, France
Open in Maps ↗Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was born in Montauban, in southern France, and trained under David in Paris. He spent many years in Italy and in the end died in Paris. He believed in the power of clean, elegant outlines and was a master of portraits. He was also a fine violin player, and the phrase 'Ingres's violin' came to mean a talented hobby.
