Gezant van Appius Claudius Caecus aan het hof van Tigranes 1799

"Gezant van Appius Claudius Caecus aan het hof van Tigranes" (1799) by Ludwig Gottlieb Portman is a black and white engraving depicting a scene of diplomacy. Appius Claudius Caecus, a Roman statesman and general, is depicted on a throne, receiving a foreign ambassador, possibly from the Armenian Kingdom of Tigranes. Portman’s engraving, part of a series, captures the formality and grandeur of diplomatic encounters during the Roman Republic. The scene is set in a richly decorated interior, emphasizing the importance of the event and the power dynamics at play. This small-scale engraving, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a significant historical document that offers a glimpse into the world of ancient diplomacy.