The Death of Lucretia

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Lucretia's courageous self-sacrifice after being brutally raped by Sextus Tarquinius sparked a heroic rebellion against the tyrannical Tarquin dynasty in ancient Rome, inspiring countless artists throughout the centuries. From the 16th to the 18th century, prints and paintings frequently portrayed Lucretia's tragic fate, although sculptures depicting this pivotal moment were relatively rare during this period. In 17th-century France, powerful women from history, mythology, and the Bible, such as Cleopatra, Dido, Esther, Jael, and Judith, were celebrated for their strength and virtue. This sculpture exemplifies the characteristic dramatic flair of the morceaux de réception, highly esteemed works created by aspiring artists to gain admission to the prestigious Académie Royale de la Peinture et de la Sculpture in Paris around 1700. Typically, these masterpieces took the form of large, under-life-sized marble sculptures, often featuring scenes from classical mythology.