Plate 10: Vespasian with his head turned slightly to the left, from "The Twelve Caesars"

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 10 from the renowned series *The Twelve Caesars*, a 17th-century etching engraving depicting Roman Emperor Vespasian. head turns slightly to the left, rendered with striking detail that captures the gravitas of imperial portraiture. Produced between 1610 and 1640, this print draws from ancient Roman busts and coins, immortalizing Vespasian (r. 69–79 CE), founder of the Flavian dynasty builder of the Colosseum. The anonymous design, possibly after Raffaello Schiaminossi, reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity during the Baroque period. Etching and engraving techniques allowed for precise lines and rich tonal contrasts, making these prints affordable reproductions of sculptures for collectors and scholars. Vespasian appears in a helmet, evoking military prowess amid the emperors' storied legacies chronicled by Suetonius. Measuring a generous 20¼ × 14½ inches, the trimmed sheet emphasizes its role as a grand wall display. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1951), this work bridges Renaissance humanism and 17th-century antiquarianism, inviting visitors to ponder Rome's enduring emperors. A testament to printmaking's power, it brings history vividly to life.

About the Artist

Anonymous|Raffaello Schiaminossi

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...