Title page for "Roman Emperors on Horseback"
Medium
Engraving; first state of two
Dimensions
Plate: 13 1/8 × 8 11/16 in. (33.4 × 22.1 cm) Sheet: 13 7/8 × 11 13/16 in. (35.2 × 30 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1956
Accession Number
56.583.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant engraving serves as the title page for the series *Roman Emperors onback*, created around 1587–89 by a talented trio: designer Jan van der Straetknown as Stradanus), a Flemish artist for his inventive compositions, and engravers Philips Galle and Aden Collaert. Produced during the late Renaissance in Antwerp, a hub of printmaking innovation, it captures the era's fascination with classical antiquity. The imagery likely features mounted Roman emperors amid symbols like eagles—evoking imperial power and victory—blending portraiture with dynamic equestrian scenes. As a first-state i...
About the Artist
Philips Galle|Adriaen Collaert|Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus · 1537–1612
Philips Galle (1537–1612) was a leading Netherlandish engraver, designer, and print publisher whose career bridged the vibrant artistic scenes of Haarlem and Antwerp. Born in Haarlem, he studied under the humanist engraver Dirck Volkertsz. Coornhert, honing his skills in reproductive printmaking. Early on, Galle produced engravings after the Haarlem master Maarten van Heemskerck, capturing the Man...