Dood van Lucretia

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden, gestempeld: Lugt 2228a

Art Historical Context

**Dood van Lucretia (The Death of Lucretia *Barthel Beham, c. 1512–1540, Engraving, 61 × 44 mm* Barthel Beham, a German engraver of the Northern Renaissance and one of the "Little Masters," the tragic tale of Lucretia in this intimate engraving. Lucretia, a virtuous Roman noblewoman, became a symbol of chastity and honor after her rape by Sextus Tarquinius, leading to her suicide and the fall of Rome's monarchy. Created during Beham's active years (1512–1540), the print reflects the era's fascination with classical antiquity, blending moral storytelling with Renaissance humanism. Beham's m...

About the Artist

Barthel Beham · 1502–1540

Barthel Beham (1502–1540), a pivotal figure in the German Renaissance, was born in Nuremberg into a family of artists. The younger brother of the renowned engraver Hans Sebald Beham, he honed his craft under the tutelage of his elder sibling and the master Albrecht Dürer, absorbing the precise techniques of engraving and painting that defined Nuremberg's vibrant artistic scene. Emerging as a prodi...