Minneapolis Institute of Art

Death of Lucretia

Israhel van Meckenem

Date

c. 1500–1503

Medium

Engraving

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Artists were riveted by the story of Lucretia after a statue assumed to be her was unearthed in Rome in 1500. In Roman historian Livy's account, Lucretia had proved herself so virtuous that Tarquinius, her husband's friend, gave himself the challenge of defiling her. He arrived at her house pretending to be a guest, then, in Lucretia's words, took his pleasure of me. Unable to live with her shame, Lucretia killed herself, but not before getting her family and friends to promise revenge on Tarquinius. Israhel van Meckenem gives us not only her theatrical suicide but also scenes of the infamous rape and her confession. Germany, Europe

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