Plate 12: Domitian in profile to the right, from "The Twelve Caesars"

Art Historical Context

Behold Plate 12 from the series *The Twelve Caesars*, an exquisite etching and engraving depicting Roman Domitian (r. 81–96 CE) in strict profile to the right.ed between 1610 1640 and attributed to the Italian printmaker Raffaello Schiaminossior possibly anonymous), this work captures Domitian adorned with a helmet, ev the grandeur of imperial portraiture. Housed the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it measures a substantial 20 5/16 × 14 1/2 inches, trimmed for display. This print revives the classical tradition of the Twelve Caesars, popularized by Suetonius' ancient biographies, during Europe's Renaissance fascination with Roman antiquity. Domitian, the last Flavian emperor, is shown in a coin-like profile that symbolizes authority and military might—note the detailed helmet, a nod to his campaigns. Such series educated and inspired early modern audiences, blending history with artistry amid the era's renewed interest in imperial legacies. The mastery of etching and engraving here shines: etching's fluid lines convey texture and depth, while engraving adds precision, enabling affordable reproductions of classical busts. This technique democratized access to Rome's emperors, influencing Baroque portraiture and underscoring prints' role in cultural transmission. A testament to enduring fascination with power's visage.

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...