Lucretia

Lucretia

Titles

Lucretia

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 118, no. 238]
[Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, 354, no. 113]

Lucretia

[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, no. 584]
[Eigenberger 1927, 90, No. 557]

Painting on beech

Medium

Painting on beech

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 118, no. 238]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, no. 584]
[Eigenberger 1927, 90, no. 557]
[Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, no. 113]

The painting depicts Lucretia as a full-length, standing nude. She is shown from the front with one leg slightly bent. Her face is inclined to the right and she stares into the far distance. Her right hand is raised slightly, pointing the tip of a long dagger between her breasts.

The painting depicts Lucretia as a full-length, standing nude. She is shown from the front with one leg slightly bent. Her face is inclined to the right and she stares into the far distance. Her right hand is raised slightly, pointing the tip of a long dagger between her breasts. In her left hand Lucretia holds a transparent veil that is draped over her right lower arm and covers her vulva. However, being transparent the veil does not hide it completely. She has no additional jewellery, but her hair is artistically pinned up.

Although the background is dark and neutral Lucretia stands on stony ground.

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

Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, no. 113]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 118, no. 238]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, no. 584]
[Hutter 1972, 39]
[Eigenberger 1927, 90, no. 557]

Production date
1532

Production date

1532

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 37.5 x 24.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 37.5 x 24.5 cm

  • [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 118, no. 238]

  • [Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, no. 584]

  • [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, no. 113]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom left: serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1532'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom left: serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1532'

  • [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, no. 113]

  • in whitish color

  • [Eigenberger 1927, 90, No. 557]

Owner
The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Repository
The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Location
Vienna
CDA ID
AT_AKBILD_557
FR (1978) Nr.
FR238
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_557/

Provenance

  • 1821 in the foundation of Count Lamberg-Sprinzenstein
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 118, no. 238]
  • After his death in 1822 his paintings were bequeathed to the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna
    [Eigenberger 1927, XVII]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1899, no. 19
Berlin 1937, no. 90
Wien (Academy) 1972
Basel 1974, No. 584
Frankfurt 2007, No. 113
Rome 2010, No. 27

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Rome 2010 215 - 217 No. 27 Pl. p. 217
EditorGalleria Borghese, Rome, Anna Coliva, Bernard Aikema
TitleCranach. L'altro rinascimento / a different renaissance, [Rome, Galleria Borghese 15 ottobre 2010 - 13 febbraio 2011]
Place of PublicationMilan
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Evans 2007 58
AuthorMark Evans
Title"Die Italiener, sonst so ruhmsüchtig, bieten Dir die Hand": Lucas Cranach und die Kunst des Humanismus
Publicationin Bodo Brinkmann, ed., Cranach der Ältere, Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Pages49-61
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007 354, 356 113 p. 356
EditorBodo Brinkmann
TitleCranach der Ältere, [Frankfurt, Städel Museum, 23 Nov 2007 - 17 Feb 2008]
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Cat. Frankfurt 2005 Fig. 152
AuthorStephan Kemperdick, Bodo Brinkmann
EditorStädelsches Kunstinstitut
TitleDeutsche Gemälde im Städel 1500 - 1550
Place of PublicationMainz
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Follak 2002
AuthorJan Follak
TitleLucretia zwischen positiver und negativer Anthropologie: Coluccio Salutatis Declamatio Lucretie und die Menschenbilder im exemplum der Lucretia von der Antike bis in die Neuzeit
Place of PublicationKonstanz
Year of Publication2002
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-opus-9144
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 118 238 Fig. 238
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 584 Fig. 325
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Vienna 1972 13-14 Fig. 7
AuthorKarl Schütz
EditorKunsthistorisches Museum, Wien
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere und seine Werkstatt. Jubiläumsausstellung museumseigener Werke 1472-1972
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Hutter 1972 40 Fig. 7
AuthorHeribert Hutter
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere in der Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Wien
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 35 090 Pl. 73
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 66 196
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Eigenberger 1927 90 No. 557 Plate p. 55
AuthorRobert Eigenberger
TitleDie Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste in Wien
Place of PublicationVienna, Leipzig
Year of Publication1927
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1899 019
EditorKarl Woermann
TitleDeutsche Kunstausstellung Dresden 1899. Abteilung Cranach-Ausstellung. Wissenschaftliches Verzeichnis der ausgestellten Werke
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1899
Link http://resolver.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/SBB00002A2400000000
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 140 434
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

D. Koepplin states that the figure of Venus (FR246) [DE_SMF_1125] which is also dated '1532', is of the same type and size.

[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, no. 584]

Maybe it was the counterpart of this Lucretia.

[Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 192 - 194]

  • Lucretia, 1532

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • x_radiograph
  • uv_light
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

2019Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

An underdrawing is not readily visible; probably executed with a brush and fluid medium. Faintly visible in the head and hands

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2020]

  • photographed by The Paintings Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • UV-light photography
  • uv_light
  • photographed by Ernst Hammerschmid

1974Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • x_radiograph
  • created by Archiv Paolo Cadorin, Kunstmuseum Basel

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Lucretia', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_557/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Lucretia', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_AKBILD_557/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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