Lucretia

Lucretia

Title

Lucretia

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 103, No. 166]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2018]

Painting on lime wood

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 103, No. 166]

The painting depicts Lucretia as a three-quarter length figure in contemporary dress. Lucretia is inclined slightly to the left, but her pained gaze is directed at the viewer. In her left hand she holds the material of her skirt, whereas in her right raised hand she holds the dagger. This

The painting depicts Lucretia as a three-quarter length figure in contemporary dress. Lucretia is inclined slightly to the left, but her pained gaze is directed at the viewer. In her left hand she holds the material of her skirt, whereas in her right raised hand she holds the dagger. This is pointed down towards the area between her breasts.

She wears a red dress with slits in the sleeves, and her chest is bare. In addition she wears a transparent veil over her head, which reappears under her left arm. Her loose, reddish-blond hair wafts in large curls to the left.

She wears a cord-like chain decorated with pearls and a linked chain as jewelry.

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]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, No. 79]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 103, No. 166]
[Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 662, No. 579]

Production dates
about 1522
about 1525

Production dates

about 1522

[Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, 182, No. 79]

about 1525

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 103, No. 166]
[Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 662, No. 579]
[Exhib. Cat. Nuremberg 1963, 8]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 33.5 x 24.5 cm (reduced to an oval)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 33.5 x 24.5 cm (reduced to an oval)

  • [Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, 182, No. 79]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the bottom right: serpent (with elevated wings)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the bottom right: serpent (with elevated wings)

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P205
FR (1978) Nr.
FR166
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P205/

Provenance

  • Franz Reichardt, Munich
  • collection of Dr. A. Figdor, Vienna
  • auctioned in Berlin, 29.09.1930, No. 101
  • Neuburg Collection, Leitmeritz, Czech Republic
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 103, No. 166]
  • 30.10.1956 auctioned in Brussels
    [Exhib. Cat Basel 1974, 662, No. 579]
    (the information regarding the provenance in the Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 is incorrect and does not refer to this painting)

Exhibitions

Nuremberg 1963, Cat. No. 8
Basel 1974, Cat. No. 579
Hamburg 2003, Cat. No. 79
Rome 2010/11, Cat. No. 26

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 80, 182 079 Pl. 79
EditorBucerius Kunst Forum, Werner Schade
TitleLucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne [Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg]
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 103 No. 166 Fig. 166
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 662 579
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
Exhib. Cat. Nuremberg 1963 008
EditorGermanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleSammlung Heinz Kisters. Altdeutsche und altniederländische Gemälde
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1963
  • Lucretia, about 1522

Images

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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/PRIVATE_NONE-P205/ (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/PRIVATE_NONE-P205/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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