Domitia Longina Domitiani Uxor

This finely executed engraving by Aegidius Sadeler II portrays Domitia Longina, wife of the Roman Emperor Domitian, who reigned from 81 to 96 CE. She is depicted in profile, dressed in richly detailed robes and adorned with jewelry that reflects her high imperial rank within the Flavian dynasty. The artist's delicate rendering of her drapery and composed posture conveys both elegance and authority, while the architectural backdrop evokes the splendor of Imperial Rome. Below the image, the Latin inscription identifies her and alludes to her complex life at court, marked by her marriage to a ruler whose reign was defined by autocracy and intrigue, and by her continued prominence after his assassination. Produced between 1586 and 1629, the work demonstrates the Sadeler family's skill in combining portraiture with historical resonance, reflecting Renaissance fascination with figures of classical antiquity and their enduring legacy.