Vitellius, Domitian, and Augustus - Theodor de Bry

A fine copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry featuring the profiles of three Roman emperors surrounded by detailed grotesque ornamentation.

This copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry presents a circular composition featuring the profiles of three Roman emperors: Vitellius, Domitian, and Augustus. Each portrait is contained within a laurel-wreathed medallion, a common convention in Renaissance numismatics and portraiture. The central space contains the Latin inscription, 'MAXIMA EGESTAS EST AVARITIA', which translates to 'Avarice is the greatest poverty'. This moralising sentiment reflects the humanist preoccupation with classical history as a source of ethical instruction.

The surrounding space is filled with grotesque ornamentation, a style popularised in the late sixteenth century. These decorative elements include small, active figures engaged in various movements, intertwined with scrolling foliage and floral motifs. De Bry, a skilled engraver and publisher, demonstrates his technical precision through the fine hatching used to model the emperors' features and the delicate linework defining the background figures. The contrast between the stoic, static portraits and the dynamic, playful grotesques creates a visual tension typical of the period's Mannerist influence.

As a publisher based in Frankfurt, de Bry produced numerous works that disseminated classical and historical knowledge across Europe. This print exemplifies his ability to combine scholarly subject matter with high-quality decorative design. The clarity of the lettering and the balance of the circular arrangement suggest this work was intended for a sophisticated audience interested in both Roman history and the aesthetic refinement of the print medium. The inclusion of the artist's signature, 'THEO DE BRY FE ET EX' (fecit et excudit), confirms his dual role as both the engraver and the publisher of the plate.