Lucretia is depicted in three quarter profile against a dark background as a nude figure wearing only a transparent veil and a double row of red pearls. Her left arm is angled behind her head, while her right one is raised in front of her chest holding a dagger.
[Öffentliche Kunstsammlung
Lucretia is depicted in three quarter profile against a dark background as a nude figure wearing only a transparent veil and a double row of red pearls. Her left arm is angled behind her head, while her right one is raised in front of her chest holding a dagger.
[Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel, revised 2011]
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]
- Attributions
-
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Attributions
| Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Kunstmuseum Basel, revised 2011] |
| Lucas Cranach the Younger | 'Lucas Cranach der Ältere oder der Jüngere' |
- Production dates
- about 1525
about 1526-1530
Production dates
| about 1525 | [Friedländer, paper label on the reverse] |
| about 1526-1530 | [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932, 66] |
| about 1535-1540 | [Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, No. 583] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 79 x 64 x 0.3-0.5 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 79 x 64 x 0.3-0.5 cm
(thinned, later reinforced (0.9 cm thick) and cradled; the edges of the painting were reworked; the size was altered slightly)
[Heydenreich, CDA 2010]
Dimension including the frame: 95.5 x 80.0 cm
[Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel, revised 2011]
- Signature / Dating
None
- Inscriptions and Labels
Reverse of the cradle:
-
top right:
Printed paper label: 'KUNSTMUSEUM BASEL/ coat-of-arms/ Nr./'; '1628 (Leon Birtschansky/ Paris 1934)/ Lucas Cranach, …Inscriptions and Labels
Stamps, Seals, Labels:
Reverse of the cradle:
- top right:
Printed paper label: 'KUNSTMUSEUM BASEL/ coat-of-arms/ Nr./'; '1628 (Leon Birtschansky/ Paris 1934)/ Lucas Cranach, d. Ae./ Lucretia, Halbfigur/ 1943 [handwritten entry in black ink]'
- top left:
Printed paper label, glued on: 'Catalog 'ons: Les tableaux de Lucas Cranach, par MM. Max J. Friedländer/ et J. Rosenberg (edit. Berlin 1932) sous le No 194./Reproduit meme ouvrage.'
Printed paper label, glued on:
''Je considere ce tableau, comme une oevre authentique de Lucas/Cranachle Vieux executee vers 1526'/ DR MAX FRIEDLÄNDER./'
Stamp: 'Douane Centrale/... Paris'
- top centre:
in blue pencil: '23367'
- top batten of the cradle:
in pencil: '/3'
[Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel, revised 2011]
- Owner
- Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel
- Repository
- Öffentliche Kunstsammlung Basel
- Location
- Basel
- CDA ID
- CH_KMB_1628
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR235
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/CH_KMB_1628/
-
