The painting depicts Lucretia as a half-length standing nude against a dark background. Her face expresses sufferance and is inclined slightly to one side. She looks at the viewer. In her right hand she holds a long dagger with the tip pointed towards herself. She wears nothing other than a
The painting depicts Lucretia as a half-length standing nude against a dark background. Her face expresses sufferance and is inclined slightly to one side. She looks at the viewer. In her right hand she holds a long dagger with the tip pointed towards herself. She wears nothing other than a thin transparent head veil, which she holds in front of her vulva together with her left hand. In addition she has a number of pieces of jewelry: a thin choker and two delicate chains. Her blond hair is pinned up.
[Herrschaft, CDA 2010]
According to the legend Lucretia lived in the 6th century BC and was the beautiful and virtuous wife of the roman Collatinus. The roman King's son - Sextus Tarquinius fell in love with her. During a stay in her house Sextus threatened to kill her and shame her honour if she did not surrender to him. After the rape Lucretia had her father and husband vow vengeance and then she stabbed herself. The event led to an uprising in which the royal family was overthrown and the Roman Empire became a Republic.
Depictions of Lucretia who was seen as the epitomy of female virtue, chastity, fidelity and honour enjoyed great popularity, particularly in the 16th century.
[Literature: Bierende 2002, Follak 2002, Livius 1909]
- Attribution
- Lucas Cranach the Elder
Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Cat. Coburg 2018, 100] |
- Production dates
- after 1537
about 1537
Production dates
after 1537 | [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 142, No. 358D] |
about 1537 | [Cat. Coburg 2018, 100] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 51.2 x 34.8 x 1.2 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 51.2 x 34.8 x 1.2 cm
[Cat. Coburg 2018, 100]
- Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia on left side of the bottom edge: winged serpent with dropped wings
Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia on left side of the bottom edge: winged serpent with dropped wings
[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]
- Inscriptions and Labels
none Reverse: - adhesive label HKA
- adhesive label: 'No 55'
- handwritten: '88'
[Cat. Coburg 2018, 100]
Inscriptions and Labels
Inscriptions, Badges:
none
Stamps, Seals, Labels:
Reverse: - adhesive label HKA
- adhesive label: 'No 55'
- handwritten: '88'
[Cat. Coburg 2018, 100]
- Owner
- Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
- Repository
- Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
- Location
- Coburg
- CDA ID
- DE_KSVC_M160
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR358D
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M160/