Plate 25: The Roman Commander Cerialis Attacks Near Trier, from The War of the Romans Against the Batavians (Romanorvm et Batavorvm societas) 1611 - 1612

Antonio Tempesta created this print, "The Roman Commander Cerialis Attacks Near Trier," around 1612, as part of a series illustrating the Roman-Batavian War. But what does a battle from antiquity mean to Tempesta’s 17th-century audience? Here, the artist uses the visual language of warfare familiar to his contemporaries, drawing parallels between the struggles of the past and the political tensions of his own time. Made in the Netherlands during the Eighty Years' War, this print subtly comments on the ongoing Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, casting the Batavians as heroic underdogs resisting a larger empire. To fully understand the print’s resonance, it's important to consider the cultural context. Research into period literature, political pamphlets, and military histories would help clarify the print’s subtle yet powerful message about resistance against imperial power. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.