Lucretia

Francesco Francia painted this Lucretia around 1506, depicting the ancient Roman heroine whose suicide after being ravished became a symbol of feminine virtue. The subject was popular in Renaissance art as an exemplum of honor and moral courage. Francia's classical treatment reflects the humanist culture of Bologna. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Francia's smooth modeling and refined technique. The classical subject is treated with the dignity and idealized beauty characteristic of Francia's approach to both sacred and secular subjects.