Plate 1: Julius Caesar looking to the right, from 'The Twelve Caesars' 1610 - 1640

This is an engraving of Julius Caesar looking to the right, one of 'The Twelve Caesars', printed on paper. Observe how the dense hatching defines the planes of Caesar's face. The anonymous artist used line to model form and create areas of light and shadow. Caesar’s gaze, directed away, suggests a mind preoccupied with matters of state. The laurel wreath, a classical symbol of victory, is here overwrought with figures, signaling power. The inscription at the bottom, "C. Caesar Dictator Perpetuus," proclaims Caesar's ambition to hold power indefinitely, challenging traditional Roman Republican values. This portrait doesn't simply depict an individual; it conveys complex ideas about power, ambition, and the tensions between individual authority and Republican ideals. The formal choices, such as the detailed linework and symbolic wreath, underscore these themes. This engraving prompts us to reflect on the timeless struggle between individual ambition and the structures of governance.