Rape of Lucretia

Art Historical Context

This evocative drawing by Italian artist Giuseppe Cades captures the tragic climax of the ancient Roman legend of Lucretia, whose assault by the tyrannical prince Tarquin spurred the overthrow of monarchy and the birth of the Roman Republic. Created in 1795, the work reflects the late eighteenth-century fascination with classical history as a source of moral and political inspiration, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of virtue, sacrifice, and civic duty. Cades rendered the scene with remarkable sensitivity using pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, and black chalk on ivory laid paper. The layered technique allows for dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, heightening the emotional intensity while the relatively large sheet—measuring 43.5 by 27.6 centimeters—gives the composition a monumental presence despite its intimate scale. Such drawings often served both as independent works of art and as studies for larger paintings or prints. Housed today in the Art Institute of Chicago’s department of Prints and Drawings, this sheet offers a compelling window into neoclassical draftsmanship and the enduring power of ancient stories to speak to later generations.