Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Eight Women Sacrificing to Priapus

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created in the 16th century by Flemish artists Cornelis Bos and Lambert, forms part of the *Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae*, a celebrated collection of prints that captured the grandeur of ancient Rome for Renaissance audiences. Bos, known for his precise engraving work after designs by others, collaborated here with Lombard, whose style reflected the emerging Romanist movement—Northern European artists drawing inspiration from Italian Renaissance masters. The medium of engraving was particularly significant at the time, allowing intricate details to be reproduced and shared widely across Europe, helping to fuel a renewed fascination with classical antiquity. The scene portrays eight women engaged in a ritual sacrifice to Priapus, the Roman god of fertility and gardens, often shown with symbolic animals that underscore themes of abundance and nature. Such imagery reflects the 16th-century interest in reconstructing ancient religious practices through art, blending historical curiosity with moral and mythological storytelling. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this work exemplifies how prints served as both educational tools and artistic treasures, preserving visions of Rome’s past for generations of viewers.

About the Artist

Cornelis Bos|Lambert Lombard · 1510–1556

Cornelis Bos (c. 1506/10–before 1555), a Netherlandish engraver, printseller, and publisher born in 's-Hertogenbosch, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Antwerp print trade during the mid-16th century. His early life remains sparsely documented, with no records of formal training or mentors, though he was active in Antwerp by 1537, producing his earliest known engraving, *Prudence and Justice*, af...