Artwork
Schlafende Lucretia (?)
Schlafende Lucretia (?) is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Schlafende Lucretia (?
About this work
Overview
Schlafende Lucretia (?) is a small-scale history painting created by Johann Rottenhammer in 1598, characterized by its Mannerist style and meticulous execution.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a dramatic interpretation of the classical figure Lucretia, set within a tense, dimly lit interior. The scene contrasts a background struggle involving a sword with a foreground figure kneeling beside a recumbent woman, whose body is turned away.
Technique & Style
Rottenhammer's refined technique is evident in the painting's sharp chiaroscuro, where pronounced contrasts between light and shadow accentuate the faces, bodies, and spatial separation of the figures, enhancing the dramatic mood.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Johann Rottenhammer, a German Mannerist painter known for his detailed cabinet paintings, the work is part of the collection at the Alte Pinakothek.
Context
Created in 1598, the painting reflects Rottenhammer's activity during the late 16th to early 17th centuries, a period when Mannerist styles emphasized emotional intensity and complex compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.
