The Story of Lucretia
1500 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
About this artwork
This large panel depicts the dramatic narrative of the Roman noblewoman Lucretia, whose rape and subsequent suicide spurred the rebellion that led to the founding of the Roman Republic. It was likely commissioned as a decorative piece for a wealthy patron's home, possibly a cassone or spalliera panel.
Did you know?
The tragic story of Lucretia, a paragon of virtue, was a powerful moral and political narrative for Renaissance Italy, reflecting on themes of honor, tyranny, and republican ideals. Botticelli masterfully compresses the story's key moments into a single, highly detailed composition, inviting viewers to contemplate the profound consequences of political and personal transgression. The central figure on the column is David, symbolizing righteous victory over tyranny, a fitting emblem for the themes explored.
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The Story of Lucretia
Sandro Botticelli, 1500
