Plate 12: Emperor Domitian on horseback facing right from the 'First Twelve Emperors of Ancient Rome' 1575 - 1630

Antonio Tempesta created this print of Emperor Domitian on horseback in the late 16th or early 17th century. Consider the weight of representation in this image. Domitian, who ruled the Roman Empire from 81 to 96 AD, embodies power and authority. Positioned high upon his horse, adorned in armor, he is presented as the ultimate leader, a symbol of Roman strength. However, Tempesta, who lived over 1500 years later, reinscribes Domitian for his own time. This print wasn’t made in a vacuum. It was made during the Counter-Reformation, a period marked by religious and political upheaval. So think about how images of power were being used and circulated in this time. What did it mean to look back to the Roman Empire for models of leadership? This print invites us to contemplate the relationship between the past and the present. By revisiting Domitian, Tempesta offers a commentary on power, leadership, and the enduring legacy of the Roman Empire, all while grappling with the complex socio-political landscape of his own era.