The Suicide of Lucretia

The painting depicts Lucretia as a three-quarter length, standing nude figure.

She is represented in an unusual pose as a 'dancing maenad'. Her body is turned slightly to the left, but her head - which she touches with her left hand - is inclined to the right. Her long, red hair and a cloth, which she wears around her hips, appear to have been blown to the left by a breeze or the movement of the dance. A transparent veil covers her hair and then falls over both upper arms. Lucretia's right hand holds the dagger and is raised to head height, but the expression of sufferance on her face suggests that she has already injured herself with the long tip. Apart from the veil Lucretia wears a large linked chain choker.

The background is dark.

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]