Vespasian came to imperial power in the civil war that followed the death of Nero. Earlier he had commanded the Roman forces which took control of southern Britain. The style of this portrait with its down-to-earth honesty is sometimes called ‘veristic’, and evokes the traditional forthright values that Vespasian espoused.

This portrait is thought to be contemporary; he was emperor from 69 to 79 and was seventy when he died