Sextus verkracht Lucretia onder bedreiging met zwaard

About this artwork

height 77 mm x width 117 mm

Art Historical Context

Behold *Sextus verkracht Lucret onder bedreiging met z* (Sextus Rapes Lucretia under of Sword), a poignant engraving by German Renaissance artist Georg Pencz, around 1546–1547. Pencz, a master of the Nuremberg Little Masters—a group celebrated for their intricate small-scale prints—draws from the ancient Roman tale recounted by Livy. In this dramatic moment, the tyrannical prince Sextus Tarquinius the virtuous Lucretia at swordpoint, an event that sparked her suicide and the revolt leading to the Roman Republic's birth. This subject, popular in Renaissance art, explores timeless themes of power, honor, and resistance against oppression. Measuring just 77 mm high by 117 mm wide, the work exemplifies the technical brilliance of 16th-century engraving. Pencz's fine lines and meticulous cross-hatching create depth and tension in this intimate format, allowing the print to be affordable and widely disseminated—revolutionizing art's accessibility beyond elite patrons. His style, influenced by Albrecht Dürer, blends classical narrative with Northern Renaissance precision, capturing raw emotion in a frozen, fateful instant. This piece not only showcases Pencz's skill but also reflects the era's fascination with moral antiquity, reminding viewers of virtue's enduring cost in the face of brutality. A gem for any collection of historical prints.

About the Artist

Georg Pencz · 1490–1550

Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits