{"product_id":"vitellius-domitian-and-augustus-theodor-de-bry","title":"Vitellius, Domitian, and Augustus - Theodor de Bry","description":"\u003cp\u003eA fine copperplate engraving by Theodor de Bry featuring the profiles of three Roman emperors surrounded by detailed grotesque ornamentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/the-virgin-standing-on-the-crescent-moon-and-crowned-by-angels-albrecht-altdorfer\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Virgin Standing on the Crescent Moon and Crowned by Angels - Albrecht Altdorfer — Albrecht Altdorfer\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/column-of-victory-for-the-subjugation-of-the-peasants-albrecht-durer\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eColumn of Victory for the Subjugation of the Peasants - Albrecht Dürer — Albrecht Dürer\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Theodor de Bry","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464218087759,"sku":null,"price":120.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464221200719,"sku":null,"price":170.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58464221233487,"sku":null,"price":180.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464221266255,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464221299023,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58464221331791,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464221364559,"sku":null,"price":560.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464221397327,"sku":null,"price":560.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58464221430095,"sku":null,"price":560.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58464221462863,"sku":null,"price":570.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58464221495631,"sku":null,"price":570.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Vitellius-Domitian-and-Augustus_Poster_CompositorV1_1786274409719.jpg?v=1786582730","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/products\/vitellius-domitian-and-augustus-theodor-de-bry","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}