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Imp. Nero Caesar Augustus

Paulus Pontius, Peter Paul Rubens, and others

Imp. Nero Caesar Augustus

1637

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Imp. Nero Caesar Augustus

1637

Physical Qualities Engraving, Sheet (trimmed within platemark): 316 × 201 mm. (12 7/16 × 7 15/16 in.)
Credit Line Garrett Collection
Object Number 1946.112.15812
This print is after a pen drawing by Rubens, now in the Harvard Art Museums (1932.360). After an unidentified marble sculpture (part of Rubens' antiquities collection acquired in 1618 from Sir Dudley Carleton). This is one from a series of twelve plates by four different printmakers after antique marble portrait sculptures. Rubens completed the series in 1638 but it must have been started much earlier (as one of the engravers, Bolswert, died in 1633). The four engravers -- Paulus Pontius, Lucas Vorsterman I, Hans Witdoeck, and Boëtius Adamsz Bolswert -- were all employed by Rubens in his studio. The production of the prints was closely supervised by Rubens as attested by five retouched proof impressions. Only six of Rubens' preparatory drawings have survived.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1946; Garrett Collection; T. Harrison Garrett, Baltimore

Inscribed: Recto: below image, lower center, in plate "IMP. NERO CÆSAR AVGVSTVS. / Ex marmore antiquo."; below image, lower left, in plate "P.P. Rubens delineavit. / P. Pontius sculpsit Ao. 1638"; below image, lower right, in plate "Cum priuilegiis Regis Christianissimi. / Principum Belgarum et Ord. Batauiæ" Verso: lower right in graphite diamond with "3794"; lower right in graphite "150"; lowe rright in graphite "FS"

Markings: CM: Claghorn

Artist

Paulus Pontius

1602–1657

Flemish, 1603-1658
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Artist

Peter Paul Rubens

1576–1639

Flemish, 1577-1640
Meet Peter →

Publisher

Peter Paul Rubens

1576–1639

Flemish, 1577-1640
Meet Peter →

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