Luca Giordano (1634–1705)
»The Death of Lucretia«
oil on canvas
The death of the virtuous Lucretia, who after being raped by Tarquinius, a fellow warrior of her husband, stabs herself before the eyes of her husband and her father, is one of the favourite classical themes of the Baroque.
The moral content of this episode, recorded for posterity in the works of Ovid and Livy, was regarded as an exemplary testimony to Roman virtue. Moreover, the inherent drama of the scene afforded artists a welcome opportunity to paint ostentatious, emotionally charged, multi-figure compositions. Contributing to the mood of the scene is the painting’s exquisite colouration, which radiates the typical festiveness of the Baroque. [ CH ]
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