Death of Lucretia
1525
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1525
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Death of Lucretia is a 1525 by Frans Crabbe van Esplegem, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a dramatic scene inside a grand, arched building. A robed woman stands at the center, her arms outstretched as if in grief or protest. Around her, smaller figures—some winged—watch from the shadows, while ornate columns and detailed carvings fill the background. The light falls sharply, creating deep contrasts between light and dark. The woman’s pose and the surrounding figures suggest a story of tragedy and moral strength. This style of lighting, where dark and light clash, was a key tool in Renaissance art. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how artists used light and shadow this way.
Frans Crabbe van Espleghem was a Flemish artist born c. 1480 Mechelen, Burgundian state, d. 1553 Mechelen, Habsburg Netherlands. Frans Crabbe began exploring printmaking after Albrecht Dürer's visit to the Habsburg…
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