Scagliola and Oil Relief Painting by Lodovico Cupioli

This art panel depicts Livia, wife of Roman Emperors Nero and Augustus, next to a pomegranate tree with the inscription Virtue for Virtue, Thorn by Thorn in Italian. The inscriptions refer to Livia’s virtuous, yet problematic, character, as men standing in the way of Augustus’ ascent to power often died mysteriously. Painted to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Augustus’ death.