The suicide of Lucretia, bronze, Florence 17th century

Rare bronze with translucent brown patina representing the suicide of Lucretia.
In accordance with the canons of the Florentine Renaissance, Lucretia is represented in "contrapposto", that is to say with all the weight resting on one leg, freeing the other, which is slightly bent.
This gives a graceful sway, with a higher shoulder, which is accentuated by the movement of the left arm holding the bun, while large locks fall on her shoulders.
With her other hand, she thrusts a sword under her right breast,
His face grimacing with pain perfectly describes the drama that is playing out but it contrasts with the other angles of view which are only grace and beauty.


Very good state of conservation, beautiful original patina.

Lost wax casting, Florence 17th century.

Dimensions:

Figure: 28 cm
Total height with base: 38 cm

Similar bronze:

Pierre Bergé sale, May 31, 2011, Lot 231

Bronze with similar iconography:

Andromeda offered to the sea monster, Marc-Arthur Khon sale, March 5, 2013, lot 11.




Our opinion :

The sculptor knew how to perfectly represent the story of Lucretia with the dramatic side of her suicide represented by the blade which penetrates her flesh and the pain visible on her grimacing face while preserving the beauty of the woman who was one of the most beautiful women of her time. era.
Indeed, if the plunging view on the left invites us to experience this tragic moment and leaves no doubt about the identity of the subject, the other views are more reminiscent of a representation of the goddess Venus emerging from her bath.
Our sculpture is a small bronze cabinet of curiosities which took place in a small theater of mirrors and reflected several diametrically opposed views.
Its rarity, its beautiful period translucent patina, its subject and its good state of conservation are all assets which will charm the most demanding collectors.




The story of the Suicide of Lucretia
This event is related by Dionysius of Halicarnassus (60 BC – 8 AD) in his Roman Antiquities and Titus Livius (30 BC – 17 AD) in his Roman History.
During the reign (534 – 509 BC) of Tarquinius Superbus, 7th king of the Etruscan dynasty, Rome went to war against the Rutulians. The siege of the city of Ardea was led by the king and his sons. During a banquet the princes decided to return to Rome to see how their wives behaved in their absence. While the princely wives were having fun, Lucretia, the wife of Tarquin Collatinus, a relative of the Tarquins, was spinning wool among her servants.
Sextus Tarquinius, one of the king's sons, dazzled by Lucretia's beauty, secretly went to her home. Faced with her refusal to give in, he threatened to add dishonor to her death by placing a slain slave next to her so that people would believe that she had been caught committing adultery.
She had to give in to him, but after the rape she summoned her father and his friend, as well as her husband and his cousin, Lucius Brutus.
Lucrezia told them about her rape, and despite them telling her that she was in no way guilty, demanding that they avenge her, she grabbed a dagger hidden in her clothing and plunged it into her heart.
Collatinus and Brutus carried Lucretia's body to the Forum, urging the crowd to revolt against the tyranny of the Tarquins. Sextus Tarquin was able to flee the city, but Tarquin the Superb was never able to recover Rome and had to resort to exile. Collatinus and Brutus became the first magistrates of the New Roman Republic, but the name of the Tarquins was so reviled that Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus also had to go into exile.