Guido Cagnacci’s Lucretia is an oil on canvas painting created around 1657 and housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon. It depicts the suicide of Lucretia, a Roman noblewoman who took her own life after being raped by the son of King Tarquin the Proud. This heroic act triggered the revolt that ended the monarchy and established the Roman Republic.
Historical context
Guido Cagnacci is a 17th century Italian painter, belonging to the late period of Italian Baroque. He was born in Santarcangelo di Romagna in 1601 and studied in Bologna with masters of the Bolognese school such as the Carracci, Guido Reni and Guercino. He traveled to Rome, Rimini, Forli and Venice, where he stayed for a decade. He was influenced by Caravaggio’s naturalism and by the colorism of Veronese and Tintoretto. He specialized in half-figure paintings, often depicting heroines from ancient history, mythology or the Bible in sensual and dramatic poses. He was called to Vienna by Emperor Leopold I in 1658 and died there in 1663.
Cagnacci painted several versions of The Death of Lucretia subject, the most famous being that of the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon.
Analysis
Lucretia is depicted at moment she plunges dagger into left breast. She is naked except blue ribbon she wears hair. Her face expresses pain resignation while her body bends under effect fatal blow.
Interpretation
Cagnacci’s painting illustrates famous episode Roman history reported ancient authors such Livy Ovid. Lucretia was virtuous wife Collatinus Roman nobleman. One day Sextus Tarquinius son King Tarquin Proud saw her at home seduced by her beauty. He returned following night raped her under threat dagger. Next morning Lucretia called husband father friends tell them misfortune. She made them swear avenge her honor then killed herself front them. Brutus then led rebellion against Tarquins drove them from Rome. He then proclaimed abolition monarchy establishment republican regime.
The subject The Death Lucretia has often been treated by artists from antiquity to modern times. It symbolizes both civic courage moral sacrifice political violence. It stages contrasting values such love hate fidelity betrayal life death. It also arouses contradictory emotions such compassion admiration disgust indignation.
Cagnacci offers personal interpretation myth highlighting central role Lucretia tragic heroine. He does not depict rape revolt but only climax suicide. He focuses heroine’s feelings bodily expression. He thus creates dramatic pathetic atmosphere inviting viewer share pain anger.
Cagnacci also places his work historical cultural context 17th century Italy. He draws inspiration Baroque artistic models favoring movement contrast visual eloquence.He also reflects moral religious concerns his time marked Catholic Counter-Reformation.He thus exalts Christian virtues such chastity penance martyrdom.
Guido Cagnacci’s Lucretia masterpiece Italian Baroque illustrating striking episode Roman history. Painter paid tribute figure Lucretia embodying courage virtue sacrifice.He also expressed intense emotions characters translating pain horror revolt.
