Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Triumph of Marcus Aurelius 1583

This print, Triumph of Marcus Aurelius, is from the series Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, and was made by an anonymous artist. The series, popular during the 16th-18th centuries, served as a visual catalog of ancient Roman monuments and celebrated Roman power. Here, we see the emperor Marcus Aurelius in his triumphal chariot, a symbol of military victory and imperial authority. The work is evocative of its time through its depiction of Roman triumph, though it is imagined through the lens of a later era. Consider the power dynamics at play: Who gets remembered in history and who is left out? This print immortalizes a specific narrative of imperial triumph, while countless other stories and perspectives are erased. What does it mean to celebrate military power and conquest? This print encourages us to consider how societies choose to commemorate events and people, and whose voices are amplified or silenced in the process.