Domitien at The Louvre, Paris

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Domitian ruled Rome from 81 until his death in 96 AD, serving as the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty. Born into a family with a strong military background, Domitian's early years were overshadowed by his brother Titus, who gained recognition for his bravery during the First Jewish–Roman War. Under their father Vespasian's rule, Titus held many high-ranking positions while Domitian was relegated to minor honors and no responsibilities. When Vespasian passed away in 79 AD, Titus took over as emperor but his reign was cut short when he fell ill and died in 81 AD. The Praetorian Guard then declared Domitian the new emperor, beginning a 15-year reign that would be longer than any other ruler since Tiberius. As emperor, Domitian strengthened Rome's economy by revaluing its currency, expanded the empire's borders through defense systems, and launched an ambitious building program to restore Rome's damaged infrastructure. However, his efforts in Britain and Dacia were met with mixed results – while his general Agricola attempted to conquer Caledonia (Scotland), Domitian was unable to secure a decisive victory against king Decebalus in Dacia. Domitian's government displayed totalitarian tendencies; he viewed himself as the new Augustus, an enlightened despot destined to guide Rome into a new era of glory. Through propaganda and censorship, he fostered a cult of personality that both won him popularity among the people and army while earning him the scorn of the Roman Senate. Domitian's reign ultimately came to an end when he was assassinated by court officials in 96 AD; his successor Nerva took power on the same day. Following his death, Domitian's reputation was condemned to obscurity by the Roman Senate, with historians like Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and Suetonius portraying him as a cruel and paranoid tyrant. However, modern scholars have reevaluated Domitian's legacy, seeing him as a ruthless but efficient leader whose policies laid the groundwork for Rome's peaceful 2nd century. Alessandro Albani, a Roman collector from the 18th century, was the nephew of Pope Clement XI. His villa, inaugurated in 1763 and located near Porta Salaria, became an important site of study for art historians like Winckelmann and Cavaceppi. They founded the history of modern art and restoration there, utilizing the Albani collection as their primary resource. Unfortunately, during the Treaty of Tolentino in 1797, France seized the Albani collection; it was returned to its owner in 1815 but Louis XVIII purchased 20 antique pieces while the Louvre retained others by exchanging other works.