Artwork
Busts of Emperor Trajan and Domitia Calvilla
Busts of Emperor Trajan and Domitia Calvilla is a print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1546 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The person on the left has curly hair and a serious look, while the one on the right wears a lace-like head covering.
This print shows two faces framed by laurel leaves. The person on the left has curly hair and a serious look, while the one on the right wears a lace-like head covering. Both faces are turned slightly away, and the background is plain except for the leafy border.
The names above each face—*IMP. CAESAR TRAIANUS* and *DOMITIA CALVILLA*—hint these are portraits of an emperor and his wife. The date "1546" is stamped below, matching the artist’s signature.
Next, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this print in person.
Overview
Hans Sebald Beham’s 1546 print presents a paired portrait of the Roman emperor Trajan and his wife Domitia Calvilla. The two busts are set within a simple laurel‑framed border, each figure turned slightly away from the viewer. The composition is compact, reflecting the artist’s reputation for finely detailed, small‑scale works.
Subject & Meaning
The inscriptions above the heads—IMP. CAESAR TRAIANUS and DOMITIA CALVILLA—identify the sitters as the fifth Roman emperor and his consort, suggesting an interest in classical antiquity that was common among Renaissance humanists. The laurel foliage alludes to imperial authority and triumph.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the print demonstrates Beham’s meticulous line work, allowing delicate rendering of hair, facial expression, and the intricate lace‑like veil on the female figure. The contrast between the smooth background and the richly detailed border exemplifies the precision characteristic of the “Little Masters” circle.
History & Provenance
Created in Nuremberg, where Beham was born and trained, the print later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work bears the artist’s signature and the date 1546, confirming its place within his productive period in the mid‑16th century.
Context
Beham was a leading member of the German “Little Masters,” a group that followed Albrecht Dürer’s legacy by producing small, highly finished prints for a market of collectors. His focus on classical subjects aligns with the broader Renaissance revival of ancient Roman imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
