The painting depicts Lucretia as a half-length standing nude figure. Her face is inclined to the right with an expression of suffering and she stares into the far distance. In her right hand she holds a long dagger pointed against her breast. In her left hand she holds a transparent
The painting depicts Lucretia as a half-length standing nude figure. Her face is inclined to the right with an expression of suffering and she stares into the far distance. In her right hand she holds a long dagger pointed against her breast. In her left hand she holds a transparent veil in front of her body, which is wrapped around both arms. In addition she wears an overcoat around her waist, which hides her vulva. She also wears a neckband and a delicate chain, which hang over her right breast. Her hairstyle indicates that she had a bonnet. 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' 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. Düsseldorf 2017, no. 174] [Herrschaft, Heydenreich 2014][Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, No. 583] |
- Production dates
- 1534
about 1531
Production dates
1534 | [dated] |
about 1531 | [Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 666, No. 583] |
about 1537 | [Zervos 1950, Fig. p. 63] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 50.5 x 36.2 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 50.5 x 36.2 cm
[Exhib. Cat. Düsseldorf 2017, no. 174]
- Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom left: serpent with elevated wings and dated '1534' in red paint
Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom left: serpent with elevated wings and dated '1534' in red paint
- Owner
- Museo de Bellas Artes Bilbao
- Repository
- Museo de Bellas Artes Bilbao
- Location
- Bilbao
- CDA ID
- ES_MBAB_12-79
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR-none
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/ES_MBAB_12-79/