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This finely engraved half-length portrait depicts Statilia Messalina, the third wife of the Roman emperor Nero, shown with classical poise before a backdrop of rusticated stonework and monumental architecture. Her head is turned in profile to the right, her expression composed and distant. Her elaborately braided hairstyle recalls ancient Roman busts, while the raised right hand makes a gesture of quiet persuasion. She is wrapped in a richly patterned mantle that falls in voluminous folds, fastened at the shoulder with a brooch and adorned with a chain of medallions across her chest. The engraver has rendered these fabrics with striking clarity, using dense hatching to capture the play of light and texture.
The engraving was executed by Aegidius Sadeler II and published by Marcus Sadeler as part of their renowned series of Roman emperors and empresses. This print is numbered VI in the sequence and includes a Latin elegiac couplet that recounts Messalina’s trajectory at Nero’s court. It refers to the emperor’s rejection of Octavia, his attraction to Messalina, and the political rivalries that followed, including Agrippina's jealousy. Despite these intrigues, Messalina ultimately survived Nero's downfall.
Sadeler’s style reflects both his exposure to Italian art and his later work at the imperial court in Prague. His engravings combine archaeological interest, elegant design, and technical precision, and they played a key role in shaping early modern visual interpretations of ancient Rome.
Provenance
Winfield Robbins, his stamp.
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