ITALIAN SCHOOL (18TH CENTURY) Lucretia Oil on canvas,...

ITALIAN SCHOOL (18TH CENTURY)
Lucretia
Oil on canvas, 50 x 38cm

Lucretia was the daughter of magistrate Spurius Lucretius and wife of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. In Roman tradition the marriage of Lucretia and Collatinus was depicted as the ideal union, as both were faithfully devoted to one another and Lucretia was considered an exemplar of ‘beauty and purity’ as well as Roman standards. While her husband was away at battle, Lucretia would stay at home and pray for his safe return. Because of her devotion to her husband, Roman writers Livy and Dionysus portrayed Lucretia as the role model for Roman girls.

While engaged in the siege of Ardea, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome, sent his son, Tarquin, on a military errand to Collatia. Tarquin was received with great hospitality at the governor's mansion, home of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus.

While in camp, Tarquin and Collatinus were debating the virtues of wives when Collatinus volunteered to settle the debate. In order to do so, he suggested riding to his home to observe Lucretia. Upon their arrival, she was weaving with her maids. The party awarded her the palm of victory and Collatinus invited them to stay, but for the time being they returned to camp.

Tarquin returned from camp a few days later with one companion to take up Collatinus’ invitation to visit and was lodged in a guest bedroom. He entered Lucretia's room while she was asleep in her bed. Tarquin having woken her tried to convince Lucretia that she should be with him. However, Lucretia stood firm in her devotion to her husband, even when Tarquin threatened her life and honour, while ultimately raping her. The following day Lucretia dressed in black, went to her father's house in Rome and cast herself down weeping in front of her father and husband. She asked to explain herself and insisted on summoning witnesses before she told them about her rape. After disclosing the rape, she asked them for vengeance, a plea that could not be ignored because she was speaking to the chief magistrate of Rome. While the men debated the proper course of action, Lucretia drew a concealed dagger and stabbed herself in the heart.

Since the Renaissance, the suicide of Lucretia has been an enduring subject for visual artists, including Raphael, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Titian and Durer. Most commonly either the moment of the Rape is shown or Lucretia is shown alone at the moment of her suicide as with the present work.