Artwork
Lucretia
Lucretia is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The work portrays a solitary female figure clutching a blade that points toward her own chest.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This subject serves as an allegory for chastity, honor, and the tragic consequences of political tyranny and sexual violence.
The painting depicts the suicide of Lucretia, a central episode in Roman history often treated as a history painting. The composition focuses on the protagonist holding a knife, marking the moment of her self-inflicted death. This subject serves as an allegory for chastity, honor, and the tragic consequences of political tyranny and sexual violence.
By portraying the final act of the noblewoman, the work visualizes the moral and emotional weight of her sacrifice, which historically sparked the overthrow of the Roman monarchy.
Technique & Style
The work is classified as a painting and falls within the genre of history painting, with the suicide of Lucretia as its main subject. According to the Wikidata record, the canvas measures 85 cm in height and 74 cm in width. The composition depicts Lucretia along with a knife, consistent with the iconography of her suicide.
Beyond these cataloging facts, the available sources do not provide specifics regarding medium, support, brushwork, palette, handling, condition, or stylistic attribution.
History & Provenance
The painting Lucretia is attributed to the Bolognese school and dated to 1650. It entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, where it remains in the collection. The work depicts the suicide of Lucretia, a subject from classical antiquity, and is classified as a history painting.
The painting Lucretia, created in 1650 and attributed to the Bologna school, is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The work depicts the suicide of Lucretia and includes a knife as a central element. While the museum's holding is confirmed, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for this piece. Additionally, no exhibition history is recorded in the available documentation.
Overview
The work portrays a solitary female figure clutching a blade that points toward her own chest. She is dressed in a white garment, with a dark shawl draped over her left shoulder, set against a deep, shadowy background that emphasizes the contrast between light and dark.
Context
Although the specific provenance is not provided, the painting aligns with a tradition of depicting Lucretia, a Roman heroine whose suicide symbolized virtue and political change, through a dramatic, emotionally charged visual language common in Baroque and later neoclassical interpretations.
Artist & collection
