1568
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Emperor Aulus Vitellius is a 1568 ink by Paolo Farinati, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a muscular man in a draped cloak, holding a rolled-up scroll in one hand and a small object—maybe a scepter—in the other. His face is serious, with short hair and a slight frown. The background is plain, but his body is detailed, with shadows showing every muscle. The name at the top reads *"A. VITELIVS GERMAN. IMP."*—short for the Roman emperor Vitellius. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture his pose, almost like a quick study. Want to see more? Check out Farinati, Paolo for other works like this.
Paolo Farinati (also known as Farinato or Farinato degli Uberti; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist style, active mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors…
See the richer artist page
![Hercules Leaning on His Club [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/1ed658247dda4bac/thumb.webp)
