Roman General (?) Seated before Ruins 1525 - 1576

Lambert Suavius made this engraving, "Roman General (?) Seated before Ruins," sometime in the 16th century. The image offers us a glimpse into the visual culture of the Renaissance, shaped by its fascination with classical antiquity. Consider the man depicted. Is he truly a Roman general? Or is he a construction, an ideal conjured from a distance? Suavius presents a figure of authority amidst crumbling architecture, perhaps reflecting the anxieties of a society grappling with change and decay. The ruins could symbolize lost glory, inviting reflections on the transience of power. What does it mean to look back, to construct identity through historical narratives? Suavius’s engraving invites us to contemplate the complexities of history, memory, and identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.