Seianus redt Tiberius 1803

Curator: This print is entitled "Seianus redt Tiberius," made in 1803 by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman. The work is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. It's a captivating engraving rendered in the neoclassical style. Editor: My first impression is tension, thick with a sense of impending doom. Look at those raised hands, the startled expressions… Curator: Portman portrays a pivotal moment. Lucius Aelius Seianus, commander of the Roman Praetorian Guard, is credited with saving Emperor Tiberius from a collapsing grotto. What might the iconography reveal? Editor: Consider the garland of laurel draped precariously above. Laurel, the symbol of victory and imperial power, is threatened, mirroring the vulnerability of Tiberius himself. The fire might represent chaos, or perhaps even divine judgment. Curator: I wonder if we can also consider this image as reflective of its own era? The Neoclassical movement drew heavily from the Roman Republic and Empire for models of civic virtue but was equally adept at subtly commenting on contemporary events, like, say, Napoleon’s imperial ambitions. Editor: That's insightful. Viewing Sejanus' act through a contemporary lens makes it interesting. Was Portman trying to warn his contemporaries about unchecked ambition disguised as saviorism? Curator: It is a fascinating thought, especially since we now know how Sejanus's own ambition would bring him down when he tried to overthrow Tiberius years later! Power always exists within a specific set of power structures. Editor: And here we see it visualized so explicitly, with symbolism and storytelling that speaks across the centuries. A constant reminder of the drama and complexities that can be conveyed by something as seemingly simple as an image.