Lucretia

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]

The painting depicts Lucretia as a standing three-quarter length figure in contemporary dress. Her face is inclined slightly to the right and her eyes are lowered. In her raised, right hand she holds a short dagger pointed against her chest and with her left hand she covers her shoulders with a green fur-trimmed overcoat. The red and gold dress with puffed sleeves Lucretia wears underneath her coat is open to reveal her chest. To complement the dress Lucretia is adorned with equally precious jewellery: a neckband studded with precious stones and a necklace with three chains. Her hair is pinned up beneath a bonnet. The background is dark.

[cda 2022]