Artwork
Tod der Lucretia (?)
Tod der Lucretia (?) is an unspecified painting by Pietro Negri. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Pietro Negri, a Venetian artist of the mid‑seventeenth century, painted *Tod der Lucretia* around 1663. The canvas belongs to the Alte Pinakothek’s collection and belongs to the genre of history painting, portraying the moment of Lucretia’s self‑inflicted death.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a lifeless, nude Lucretia lying on a low surface, her pallid skin and tilted head suggesting the finality of her suicide. Two figures—an attendant woman in a loose white garment and an older man in dark, patterned attire—lean over her, the man clutching a spear, perhaps alluding to the violent honor code that prompted her act.
Technique & Style
Negri employs a stark chiaroscuro, characteristic of the tenebrosi, to heighten drama. Deep shadows envelop the background while focused beams illuminate the faces and hands, creating a stark contrast that emphasizes the emotional intensity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in the Baroque period, the work entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of Venetian tenebrist painting.
Context
Lucretia’s story, a Roman legend of virtue and tragic suicide, was a frequent subject for Baroque artists, who used it to explore themes of honor, shame, and moral resolve. Negri’s treatment aligns with contemporary interests in moralizing narratives rendered with theatrical lighting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Negri (1628, Venice - 31 May 1679, Venice) was an Italian painter in the Baroque style who belonged to the so-called "tenebrosi" (dark or gloomy ones).
