Lucretia. Prague School From The 17th Century, Circa 1600

Oil on lined oak panel Presented in a precious frame in molded wood veneered with rosewood interspersed with black guilloché strips. Total dimensions: 72 x 60 cm. The panel alone: 55 x 44 cm This very interesting painting represents the death of Lucretia, the painter chose to use a palette of fairly lively and slightly tangy colors. As in a theater, the scene is set at the foot of a large staircase and in the middle of Italian palace architecture. The beautiful Romaine is half reclining on a bed of great refinement, it is skirted with green braided fabrics and rests on claw feet shaped like lion's paws. A large canopy with purple lambrequins is installed above a gilded wood backsplash. A tripod copper brazier is made of lion paws and ram's heads; it is lit and smoke escapes… The biblical story: Lucretia (Lucretia in Latin) is a Roman lady, wife of Tarquin Collatinus, who having been raped by Sextus Tarquin, son of the king, killed herself out of fear to be accused of adultery. It was following the rape of Lucretia that Rome would have passed from the monarchy to the Republic, in 509 BC. The author of the painting which we have not yet identified is most probably a Flemish artist working in Prague around 1600, the touch is still very mannerist. Good state of conservation. Sold with a certificate.