Emperor Vespasian on Horseback, from the series The First Twelve Roman Caesars, plate 11

Art Historical Context

Behold *Emperor Vespasian onback*, plate 11 from the grand series *The First Twelve Caesars*, a masterful etching collaboration between Italian artist Antonio Tempesta and Swiss engraver Matthäus Mer the Elder, created between 1610 and 1650. Tempesta, renowned for his depictions of history, mythology, and equestrian scenes, designed these prints, while Merian brought them to life through precise engraving techniques. Measuring about 14⅝ × 20½ inches on the sheet, this work captures the Flavian emperor in triumphant pose astride his steed, evoking the power and valor of ancient Rome. Vespasian (r. 69–79 CE), the no-nonsense general who rose from humble origins to stabilize the empire after the chaotic "Year of the Four Emperors," is here immortalized in the Renaissance tradition of glorifying classical leaders. Such series were hugely popular in 17th-century Europe, serving as both historical records and moral exemplars for princes and scholars, blending factual portraiture with dramatic flair. The equestrian format underscores imperial might, a motif rooted in Roman coinage and triumphal art. Crafted via etching—a revolutionary intaglio process where acid etches lines into a metal plate—this print exemplifies the era's technical innovation, allowing for intricate details in the horse's musculature and Vespasian's armored form. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1951), it invites us to gallop through history, marveling at how 17th-century artists revived antiquity for their time.

About the Artist

Antonio Tempesta|Matthäus Merian the Elder · 1555–1630

Antonio Tempesta (1555–1630), known as 'Il Tempestino,' was a Florentine painter and printmaker whose extraordinary output of approximately 1,700 etchings made him one of the most influential printmakers of the early Baroque period. Born in Florence and trained under Santi di Tito and the Flemish master Joannes Stradanus, he enrolled in the Accademia del Disegno in 1576 before relocating to Rome i...