The Rape of Lucretia (Ficherelli)

Original in Rome, with colours adjusted

The Rape of Lucretia (also catalogued as Lucretia and Tarquin, Tarquinius and Lucretia, and otherwise) is any of several paintings, variations of the same subject, which are usually attributed to either Felice Ficherelli or Guido Cagnacci and dated to the late 1630s or about 1640.[1][2]

The first and much the largest version is in the gallery of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome.[2] It is traditionally attributed to Cagnacci, but more recent scholarship favours Ficherelli.[3] There is an autograph replica in the storage of the Florentine Galleries.[4][3] Another, smaller copy on copper is in the Wallace Collection, London.[2]

The subject is the legendary rape of Lucretia, as recounted by the ancient Roman historian Livy; specifically the moment in Livy's account when Tarquinius has Lucretia cornered at sword-point in her bedchamber and threatens to kill and disgrace her.

  1. ^ Baldassari, Francesca. "Tarquinius and Lucretia". Accademia Nazionale di San Luca. Inv. 324.
  2. ^ a b c "The Rape of Lucretia". Wallace Collection Online. Inv. P643.
  3. ^ a b Ingamells 1985, i, p. 221.
  4. ^ "Ficherelli Felice detto Felice Riposo, copia da". Polo Museale Firenze (Inventario 1890). Inv. 4410. 22 September 2011.