The Tiburtine Sibyl and Emperor Augustus, ca. 1445 – 1455

About the Work

According to a Christian legend, the wise Sibyl of Tibur showed Caesar Augustus a celestial vision of the newborn Christ Child. This inspired the Roman emperor to abstain from his own elevation to divine status and to make a devout sacrifice to the child. The Master E.S. embedded the event in an affectionately rendered setting. Naturalistically depicted plants and animals—a dog, a duck, a rabbit, a stag, a stork, and others—as well as a number of human figures enliven the scene.