Ruiterportret van keizer Augustus 1616 - 1620

Laurens Eillarts made this engraving of a horseback portrait of Emperor Augustus. The print uses the visual codes of classical imagery to lend authority to its subject. Made in the Netherlands, it participates in a longer history of rulers using art to legitimize their power. The inscription at the bottom reading, "Augustus Son of a God," asserts the Emperor's divine right to rule. But the image also highlights the institutional history of the print itself as a reproducible and therefore democratic medium, available to a wider audience than painting or sculpture. Historical context is key to interpreting this artwork. By consulting historical texts and understanding the visual culture of the time, we can better appreciate the complex interplay of power, representation, and artistic expression in this image.