Portret van keizer Caligula

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2166

Art Historical Context

Behold the striking *Portret van keizerigula*, an engraving by Johann Friedrich Leonard from the mid-17th century (circa 1643–1680). Measuring a compact 173 mm by 127 mm, this intimate portrait captures the infamous Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, as Caligula, ruled from 37 to41 AD. Rendered in the precise medium of engraving—a technique popular in the Baroque era for its ability to produce intricate lines and tonal depth through intaglio printing—this work exemplifies how 17th-century artists revived classical antiquity for contemporary audiences. Caligula's legacy as ...

About the Artist

Johann Friedrich Leonard · 1630–1690

Johann Friedrich Leonhard (also spelled Leonard or Leonart, 1633–1680/87) was a German copperplate engraver and early practitioner of mezzotint who worked during the Baroque period, creating portraits and reproductive engravings after works by other artists. Though documentation of his life remains limited, his surviving works demonstrate mastery of engraving techniques and participation in the ne...