Bust of Livia Drusilla in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Bust of Livia Drusilla
Roman, 1-25 AD
Marble

Accession # 74.AA.36

Livia Drusilla was the wife of the first Roman emperor, Augustus (ruled 27 BC- AD 14), and the mother of his successor, Tiberius (ruled 14-37 AD). She held unprecedented political power for a woman. Although this portrait was carved when she was about sixty years old, it depicts the empress with a youthful composure in order to present a political image of harmony and stability.

Text from the Getty Villa museum label.