Sheet 2: A figure on a triumphal chariot surrounded by figures on horseback, from "The Triumph of Julius Caesar" 1599

Andrea Andreani made this chiaroscuro woodcut, depicting a triumphal procession, in Italy, sometime between 1588 and 1629. The print revives imagery from ancient Rome, a period that enjoyed enormous prestige in the Renaissance imagination. Triumphs were elaborate public rituals granted to victorious generals, a spectacle carefully choreographed to reinforce the power of the state. Here, Caesar rides in a chariot laden with spoils, a scene that is a potent expression of military might and imperial ambition. Prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge of classical antiquity. Museums and academies collected them as sources for artists and scholars. By circulating images of Roman grandeur, they shaped the visual culture of early modern Europe. To understand this print better, we can consult primary sources, such as accounts of Roman triumphs, and study the patronage networks that sustained artists like Andreani. Attending to the social life of images sheds light on the enduring power of art.