Statue of Augustus 'Rebuilt'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 16

Statue of Augustus 'Rebuilt'

ABLES, France — One of the largest atatues of Imperial llome, a figuro oi Augustus Caesar whose two thousandth anniversary is being celebrated this 'year, has just been reeonstituted and, placed in the pagan section of- the Archeological ALuseunr of Arles. This reinarkable acliievement is due to the patience and dexterity of M. Fernand Benoit, conservator of the museum, expert on Koman art. When tho torso was discovered some time ago in the antique Ro man Tlieater of Arles, he was engaged to seek additional fragments, widely dispersed, and to piece them together. Considerable time was spent in reconstituting the magnificent drapery of Lens limestone from Nimes, which falls from the waist. The original statue was niore than 12 feet high, but the Teeonstitution (from the lcnees up) measures S feet. An idea of the grandiose dimensions of this Augustus may be seen iu the fact that the torso has a circumference of oi feet. It was liot possiblo to tcconstitute the legs, since not a single i'ragment of them could be fouud. The sculptor of the original statue is known. It is thought that he may perhaps have been the same artist who carved the Augustus found at -Prifhaporta near Rome. At least the head's of the two statues are almost identical.. For the past five years, M. Benoit has been arranging the treasures, dat-' ing back 10 or 20 centuries, to be found in the Arles archeological museum. The section devoted to Christian art is now terminated, and he s giving all his attention to the pagan section. In this section, the reeonstituted statue of Augustus will have the place of honour.