Originally offered at $600...

Engraved by Flemish engravers including Aegidius Sadeler II (Flemish, 1570-1629). Six portraits of Roman Emperors and Empresses - prints with etching and engraving, late 16th to early 17th century. Six Flemish engravings from a set of portraits depicting Roman emperors and empresses. The emperor portraits were created after paintings by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio or Vecelli, Italian, d. 1576, ca. 1585-1629) which were later lost in a catastrophic fire, and the empress portraits were added to the series by the Flemish engravers. The six sitters depicted include Albia Terentia Othonis Mater, Caesonia Caesar Caligulae Uxor, Statilia Messalina, Nero Claudius Caesar, Domitia Longina Domitiani Uxor, and Flavius Domitianus. All are half-length portraits, and the emperors were created after paintings in the "Eleven Caesars" - a series of paintings that Titian made for Federico II, the Duke of Mantua, from 1536 to 1540. Among Titians most famous works, they were inspired by Suetonius' "Lives of the Caesars". Size of engravings: 13.75" L x 9.5" W (34.9 cm x 24.1 cm) Size of sheets: 17.7" L x 13.4" W (45 cm x 34 cm)

Titian's paintings were originally kept in the Palazzo Ducale di Mantova, and were later sold to Charles I of England (1627 to 1628) by Vincenzo II Gonzaga. After Charles I's execution, the Royal Collection was broken up, and in 1651, the "Eleven Caesars" paintings were acquired by King Philip IV of Spain. Unfortunately, all of the paintings were destroyed in a fire at the Royal Alcazar of Madrid in 1734, so today, these portraits only survive in engravings.

Six portraits are included in this ensemble. Albia Terentia Othonis Mater is presented gazing to her right, hands crossed over her stomach, donning an elaborate pearl headdress, a mantel fastened with a brooch and baldric, and a ring on her left hand. Caesonia Caesar Caligulae Uxor is presented looking toward her right, resting her right hand on a pedestal, with ruins of a classical colonnade in the background. Statilia Messalina is similarly presented looking toward her right, wearing a bejeweled headdress, a flowing garment with a brooch and baldric, chains dangling from her raised right arm, and classical architecture in the background. Nero Claudius Caesar is presente wearing elaborate armor and a flowing mantle secured by a bejeweled fibula, his serious visage facing front but gazing toward his left, and holding a weapon in his right hand. Domitia Longina Domitiani Uxor is in composite profile, dressed in billowing garments secured by brooches, bedecked with a pinky ring on her right hand, chains wrapped around her right forearm, and a dangling earring, with her updo of braids and curls adorned by jewels and a veil. Finally, Flavius Domitianus wears regal vestments though his muscular arms and neck are revealed, wields a sword and scabbard, and presents a profile visage crowned by a leafy wreath of victory.

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#169502

Engravings are laid to float upon a larger sheet and surrounded by a decorative inked border. Expected age wear with toning and stains as shown.