Title Page for Imperatorvm Romanorvm Nvmismata Avrea is a highly significant print designed by or under the direct supervision of Sir Peter Paul Rubens, created in 1627. Executed as an intricate engraving on laid paper, the work functions as the elaborate frontispiece for a scholarly volume dedicated to Roman numismatics, focusing specifically on Numismata Avrea, or the gold coins of the Roman Emperors. While the technical engraving may have been performed by a specialized printmaker within his network, the ambitious, high Baroque design structure clearly reflects the standards characteristic of Rubens and his workshop.
The purpose of this title page was both decorative and informational, immediately establishing the learned classical subject matter and the grandeur of the impending volume. Created during the height of the Netherlandish period 1601 to 1650, the design utilizes allegorical figures, perhaps representing History and Time or Virtue and Fame, framing the central inscription field. This blend of dynamic figures and classical architectural motifs demonstrates the era’s profound fascination with antiquity and the systematic study of historical artifacts. Such designs were essential in elevating scholarly publications to the level of high art.
Rubens's mastery of composition is evident in the dynamic structure, where robust figures support or frame the necessary textual elements, a compositional strategy often employed in his monumental designs for prints. These frontispieces and illustrations played a critical role in disseminating the artist’s aesthetic across Europe, allowing the influence of the Baroque master to extend far beyond the immediate circle of patrons who commissioned his paintings. The precision required for engraving on laid paper ensures the high finish and clarity necessary for a published work of this magnitude. This exemplary piece of 17th-century Netherlandish printmaking is preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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