Nero, from The Twelve Caesars, from "Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae"

An engraved profile of the emperor Nero, a laurel-crowned bust framed by a circular border inscribed NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER. Fine parallel hatching models the curled hair, the beard and the draped shoulder, with the head turned right against a shaded ground.

Look closer: A ribbon from the laurel wreath trails down behind the neck and shoulder.

Artist

Marcantonio Raimondi

Date

ca. 1500–1534

Medium

Engraving; second state of three

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

1882 × 2069 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1941