The Emperor Aulus Vitellius 1565 - 1570

Paolo Farinati rendered 'The Emperor Aulus Vitellius' in pen and brown ink with brown wash, over black chalk. The drawing presents us with a standing figure set against a shallow architectural niche. The composition is structured by the interplay of light and shadow, which model the figure's form and create a sense of depth. Farinati skillfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to define the contours of Vitellius's body and drapery, emphasizing the material qualities of the fabric and flesh. This concern with texture and form reflects a broader interest in the period with classical ideals and their translation through artistic techniques. The semiotic potential here resides in the artist's choice to depict the emperor not as an idealized ruler, but as a figure of corporeal presence. The drawing prompts us to consider how the physical body becomes a site of meaning, reflecting cultural values related to power, decadence, and the transient nature of earthly authority.