At Chatsworth House, is an important marble bust of Augustus, purchased during a grand tour of Europe, it is a later copy of the Roman original.

This impressive work of art has a chiselled surface, with fine detail to the hair.

Augustus is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, he was adopted posthumously by his great-uncle Gaius Julius Caesar in 44 BC via his last will and testament, and between then and 27 BC was officially named Gaius Julius Caesar.

In 27 BC the Senate awarded him the honorific Augustus ("the revered one"), and thus consequently he was Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus.

Because of the various names he bore, it is common to call him Octavius when referring to events between 63 and 44 BC, when referring to events between 44 and 27 BC, and Augustus when referring to events after 27 BC.