Most interesting here is power dynamics. “SPQR” stands above the door and almost everyone, implying Rome (the good of its people or its powerful reputation) stands above all, overseeing proceedings—the few Senators above it a nod to corruption. As for foreground characters: while Octavian is consul and a member of the triumvirate, he’s the lowest. In order to start his war, he’s at the mercy of the Senator. His words will mean nothing without confirmation of the “Will of Marc Antony.” And, because the Senate itself must declare war, the Senate rises above even them. Without the chain of events (from him, to the Senator, to the Senate), what Octavian wants doesn’t happen.
This is a very interesting shot, and if you hadn't mentioned it, I might not have noticed how weird it is that Octavian stands below everyone else. He looks almost like a vicious snarling dog in this scene. Yes, he appears smaller than Germanicus (even though we know from other scenes that he is actually quite a tall young man), but he is also backed by all the many senators we see sitting behind him on the right side, whereas we see only bits of two supporters of Germanicus. Germanicus is taller, but the yapping Octavian forces him to turn back toward him, and I think that means that Octavian, while smaller, is paradoxically the more powerful person in this scene.
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