This pen-and-ink drawing attributed to Jan van Mieris shows the discovery of the suicide of the virtuous Lucretia. After being raped by the Roman king's son Sextus Tarquinius Superbus, she stabbed herself with a knife.
Artists mainly depicted the rape or her suicide. Van Mieris, however, depicted the moment when Brutus, the nephew of Lucretia's husband, swears revenge after her suicide. In the drawing, this scene takes place in Lucretia's lavishly decorated room. On the left, we see Brutus with the bloody knife in his hand. On the right, we see Lucretia who has just died in her father's arms. They are surrounded by other figures, possibly including her husband and her maid.
Paintings of Lucretia's suicide are quite rare by northern Dutch artists. No painting has been found that matches this drawing by Van Mieris.
Specifications
| Title | The Discovery of Lucretia's Suicide |
|---|---|
| Material and technique | Pen and brown ink, grey wash |
| Object type |
Drawing
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
| Location | This object is in storage |
| Dimensions |
Width 186 mm Height 140 mm |
|---|---|
| Artists |
Attributed to:
Jan van Mieris
: Willem van Mieris : Jan Verkolje (I) |
| Accession number | MB 1988/T 13 recto (PK) |
| Credits | Purchased 1988 |
| Department | Drawings & Prints |
| Acquisition date | 1988 |
| Creation date | in circa 1680-1690 |
| Material | |
| Object | |
| Technique |
Grey wash
> Washing
> Wash
> Drawing technique
> Technique
> Material and technique
|
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