Artwork
The Death of Lucretia
The Death of Lucretia is a print by Noël Le Mire. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a paper print reproducing the composition titled *The Death of Lucretia*, originally painted by Andrea del Sarto. The print was executed by the French engraver Noël Le Mire in 1850 and is part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays the Roman heroine Lucretia at the moment she ends her own life after being violated, a narrative that has long served as a moral exemplar of virtue and honor in classical tradition. Her expression and posture convey profound sorrow and acceptance of her fate.
Technique & Style
The composition follows del Sarto’s High Renaissance approach, employing strong chiaroscuro to model the figure against a dark backdrop. In the print, the contrast between illuminated flesh and deep shadows is rendered through line work and tonal gradations, preserving the dramatic lighting originally achieved with oil paint.
History & Provenance
The original painting by Andrea del Sarto dates to the early 16th century, and Le Mire’s 1850 print was produced during a period of renewed interest in Renaissance masters. The print entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings in the late 19th century, where it remains on display as an example of 19th‑century reproductive printmaking.
Artist & collection
