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Description

This engraving by Aegidius Sadeler and Marcus Christoph Sadeler depicts Petronia, the first wife of the Roman emperor Vitellius (r. 69 CE). The composition shows her in a three-quarter profile, dressed in richly detailed drapery and adorned with jewelry, emphasizing her imperial status. Her composed expression and the intricate rendering of her garments highlight the artistic precision characteristic of the Sadelers' work.

The Latin inscription beneath the portrait includes verses lamenting her tragic fate, reflecting the instability of Vitellius’s reign during the Year of the Four Emperors. Created between 1586 and 1629, this engraving exemplifies the Sadeler family's reputation for historical and allegorical portraiture, appealing to the humanist and aristocratic tastes of their time.

Condition Description
Engraving on laid paper. Small repaired loss from the upper left corner. Mounted on a larger sheet of modern paper. Red ink collector stamp of Winfield Robbins.