Lucretia, early 1640s
Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri)expand_more
Pen and brown ink and washexpand_more
Gift of Elizabeth, Julie, and Catherine Andrus in memory of John and Marion Andrusexpand_more 2015.93.17
Not on Viewexpand_more
According to ancient Roman tradition, when the noblewoman Lucretia refused the advances of Tarquin, son of the king of Rome, he threatened to kill her and a male servant and to leave them in a bed together for her husband to discover. To spare the life of the servant, Lucretia sacrificed herself to Tarquin, who raped her. Afterward she summoned her family, swore them to an oath of vengeance, and—the moment depicted in Guercino’s drawing—lifted a dagger to kill herself.
The rapid, searching strokes defining the robe, the curving parallels in the shadows, and the stippled dots that define Lucretia’s skin all demonstrate Guercino’s breathtaking skill with the pen. Though renowned today, his drawings were largely unknown to his contemporaries. He made them for his own use and kept them until his death.
Details
- Title
- Lucretia
- Artist Life
- (Bologna), 1591–1666
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.93.17
- Provenance
- John E. Andrus III, Wayzata, Minn., (by 1971–d. 2012); by descent to his daughters, Elizabeth, Katie, and Julie (until 2015; given to Mia)
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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