Plate 5: Tiberius Claudius in profile to the right, from "The Twelve Caesars" 1610 - 1640

This is an engraving of Tiberius Claudius, one of "The Twelve Caesars," created by an anonymous artist. The work is dominated by the profile of Claudius, richly adorned. The intricate hatching and cross-hatching give form to the volumes of his face and hair. The elaborate helmet, with its grotesque animal and laurel wreath, contrasts with the smooth skin of his face. This contrast plays with semiotic codes of power and the individual. The helmet with its eagle and zoomorphic qualities represents authority. The figure of Claudius is represented in profile, a traditional format for rulers that presents an ideal and timeless view. However, the softness of the hatching undermines the sense of an authoritative figure. The artist destabilizes the established meaning of a ruler's portrait. By imbuing the image with textural nuance and the subtle vulnerability of the Caesar's gaze, the artist uses form to question power, inviting ongoing interpretation of leadership and representation.