After: Antonio Tempesta (1555 - 1630) "The First Twelve Roman Caesars", circa 1596, see images. Six prints by Tempesta are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum. Between 1610 and 1650 the Swiss Mattäus Merian the Elder produced the same series after Tempesta. Part of these prints are in the same collection.The emperors depicted are:Nero: plaque with text Nero Claudius Ceasar VIOtho: plaque with text Silvius Otho VIIIGalba: plaque with text Ser Galba VIIClaudius: plaque with text Claudius Ceasar VAll plaques are signed in the lower right hand corner .I.L. (Jacques Laudin).Dimensions: 17,5 x 15 cm.Each within a (later) gilt and velvet frame.Condition: The plaques have small restored parts (well done). Practically the restoration has been done at the edges. It can be seen in the photo. (the lines). Black indicates the restored area.Master enameller Jacques Laudin (1627 - 1695), known as Jacques I or his nephew Jacques II (1653 - 1729) who inherited his Limoges workshop, took a 1596 print of an engraving by Antonio Tempesta (1555 - 1630) as his design source for these plaques. The prints consisted of twelve illustrations of the first Roman emperors. The enamel versions have been painted almost in ‘grisaille’, which usually means monochrome shades of grey, but in this case blue and a pale flesh colour have been added. Shading is achieved by ‘enlevage’, the technique of scratching through upper layers of enamel to reveal a contrasting colour beneath. The works are enhanced with gilded details.