print
- Museum number
- 1891,0414.1236
- Title
- Series: Varie Figueri de Agati Antique
- Description
-
Constantine and Fausta; a chariot with the imperial couple being drawn in a chariot, together with their son, the chariot drawn by two centaurs, the left one trampling enemies, a Victory placing a laurel above the couple and unfinished state; from a set of nine plates showing antique cameos after drawings by Rubens. 1623
Engraving
- Production date
- 1623
- Dimensions
-
Height: 230 millimetres (trimmed)
-
Width: 330 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- This is one from a series of nine, for comment see 1858,0417.1268. The scene used to be interpreted as a triumph of Germanicus or of Claudius or as Augustus and Livia, but recent research suggests it represents Constantine the Great and his wife. The engraving does not accurately copy the gemstone and this may be the reason why the plate is unfinished.
The plate is unsigned but Paulus Pontius has been suggested as the printmaker, although he only entered Rubens' studio in 1624. For another impression see also 1874,0808.2137.
After an unknown drawing by Rubens; the cameo (a three-layered agate) has been in het Koninklijk Penningkabinet (1816-2007, The Hague and Leiden), the Geldmuseum (2007-2013, Utrecht) and is currently been kept in het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, inventory number GS-11096.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
2021-2022 10 Nov - 4 Jan, Los Angeles, Getty, Rubens Picturing Antiquity
- Acquisition date
- 1891
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1891,0414.1236