Lucretia

Lucretia

Title

Lucretia

[Cat. Budapest 2003, 32]

Painting on spruce wood

Medium

Painting on spruce wood

[Cat. Budapest 2003, 32]

softwood

[cda 2014]

The painting depicts Lucretia as a full-length, standing nude figure on stony ground against a dark background. Lucretia's body is turned slightly to the left side of the painting, whereas her head is inclined to the right. With her right, raised hand she points the short dagger at herself. Lucretia

The painting depicts Lucretia as a full-length, standing nude figure on stony ground against a dark background. Lucretia's body is turned slightly to the left side of the painting, whereas her head is inclined to the right. With her right, raised hand she points the short dagger at herself. Lucretia wears her long hair loose and is dressed in nothing more than a transparent undergarment, that wafts to the right of the image in a light breeze. The only piece of jewellery she wears is a neckband set with precious stones.

[Herrschaft, cda 2014]

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
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Budapest 2003, 32]

Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder

[cda 2014]

Production date
about 1550 - 1800

Production date

about 1550 - 1800

[cda 2014]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 47.5 x 32.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 47.5 x 32.8 cm

  • Painted surface: 45.6 x 31 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 58.5 x 43.8 cm

  • [cda 2014]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse: - stenciled in black paint: 'Gr. Zichy' and '59'

  • red seal
  • in red chalk: '1748'
  • in black pen: '017'
  • Museum label

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse: - stenciled in black paint: 'Gr. Zichy' and '59'

    • red seal
    • in red chalk: '1748'
    • in black pen: '017'
    • Museum label
Owner
Szépmuvészeti Múzeum, Budapest
Repository
Szépmuvészeti Múzeum, Budapest
Location
Budapest
CDA ID
HU_SMB_53-489
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/HU_SMB_53-489/

Provenance

  • 1906 from the estate of Count Ödön Zichy, Vienna
  • 1953 transferred from the municipal gallery
    [Cat. Budapest 2003, 32]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Budapest 2003 32
EditorIldikó Ember, István Takács
TitleMuseum of Fine Arts Budapest. Old Masters' Gallery. Summary Catalogue, Vol. 3: German, Austrian, Bohemian and British Paintings
Volume3
Place of PublicationBudapest
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Garas 1968 274 No. 800
AuthorKlára Garas
TitleDas Schicksal der Sammlung des Erzherzogs Leopold Wilhelm
JournalJahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien
Place of PublicationMunich
Issue64 (1968)
Year of Publication1968
Show Literature
Cat. Budapest 1967 169
AuthorAndor Pigler
TitleKatalog der Galerie Alter Meister I-II
Place of PublicationBudapest
Year of Publication1967
Show Literature
Fenyo 1954 52-53 Fig. 31
AuthorIvan Fenyo
TitleUn dessin, et quelques tableaux de Cranach au Musée des Beaux-Arts
JournalBulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux-Arts
Issue5 (1954)
Year of Publication1954
Pages44-53
Show Literature
Garas 1948 25
AuthorGaras
TitleTableaux provenant de la collection de l'archiduc Léopold-Guillaune au Muée des Beaux-Arts
JournalBulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux-Arts
Issue2 (1948)
Year of Publication1948
Pages22-26
Show Literature
Cat. Budapest 1909 B 498 No. 816
Authorn. a.
TitleA Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum képtárának festményei és grafikai állaga
Volume1
Place of PublicationBudapest
Year of Publication1909
Show Literature
Cat. Budapest 1897 494 No. 816
Authorn. a.
TitleAz Országos Képtár mutárgyainak leíró lajstroma, Athenaeum
Place of PublicationBudapest
Year of Publication1897
Show Literature
Cat. Budapest 1870 129 No. V./156
EditorAntal Ligeti
TitleA Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum képcsarnokának ismerteto lajstroma
Place of PublicationBuda
Year of Publication1870
Show Literature
Cat. Budapest 1868 5 No. 46
EditorÁgoston Kubinyi, János Herz
TitleA Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Képtárának lajstroma
Place of PublicationPest
Year of Publication1868
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The full-length nude figure of Lucretia on stony ground against a dark background is reminiscent of the one in the collection in the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Vienna and the one in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. The position of her right arm and the style of the dagger recall later types, like the one in Graz. Unusual however is the position of her left hand, because it creates the impression that it is part of a representation of Venus.

[Herrschaft, cda 2014]

  • Lucretia, about 1550 - 1800

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • uv_light

Technical studies

06. 2014Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • UV-light photography
  • uv_light
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

06. 2014Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared Reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- relatively free underdrawing

- thin lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the essential details and the facial features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2014]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2014 - Technical Examination

Support

- the panel is made of coniferous wood and is slightly warped

- irregularities in the wood are visible on the recto in the flesh paint

Ground and Imprimatura

- a barbe is visible on all four sides

Paint Layers and Gilding

- there is a black painted boarder running around all four sides between the edge of the picture plane and the edge of the panel

[Herrschaft. cda 2014]

Condition Reports

Date2014 -

  • Craquelée primarily in the direction of the grain

  • the reverse of the support exhibits some woodworm damage (not active)

  • some retouchings in the flesh paint

  • examined by Jana Herrschaft

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/HU_SMB_53-489/ (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/HU_SMB_53-489/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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