Tarquin and Lucretia
1578–80
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
175 × 151.5 cm (68 7/8 × 59 5/8 in.); Framed: 203.9 × 181 × 8.3 cm (80 1/4 × 71 1/4 × 3 1/4 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
64920
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
According to Roman history, the rape of the virtuous matron Lucretia by Tarquin, son of the Roman king, incited the people to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic around 510 BCE. Lucretia was hailed as a hero for subsequently committing suicide in an attempt to avoid any perceived dishonor to her family. Tintoretto depicted one of the most violent moments of the story with his characteristic expressive distortions of anatomy and space and vibrant treatment of light: As Tarquin and Luc...