Killing of Domitian 1748

Paul Egell created this pen and brown ink drawing entitled ‘Killing of Domitian’ sometime between 1706 and 1752. It depicts a scene of betrayal and violence. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of Baroque art, which dominated European art from the early 17th to mid-18th century. Egell was German, and his work was influenced by the political and religious history of his time, a period marked by the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War and the ongoing tensions between Protestant and Catholic states. Such institutions as the Catholic Church and the aristocratic courts patronized artists. They were looking for art that projected power and legitimacy. In Killing of Domitian, Egell challenges the social structures of his time, questioning the authority of rulers and hinting at the instability of political power. By exploring the historical context and institutional forces that shaped Egell's work, we can better understand its significance and its commentary on the social structures of its time. We might consult historical archives, religious texts, and biographical accounts to shed light on the complex interplay between art, politics, and society in Baroque Germany.