Suicide of Lucretia, from "Scenes from Roman History"

Art Historical Context

Georg Pencz's *Suicide of Lucretia, "Scenes from Roman History is a poignant engraving capturing a pivotal moment from ancient Roman legend. Lucretia, a virtuous Roman noblewoman, took her own life after being assaulted by the son of King Tarquin, an act that ignited outrage and led to the downfall of Rome's monarchy in 509 BCE, paving the way for the Republic. Pencz, a leading figure among the Nuremberg Little Masters—a group of 16th-century engravers renowned for their intricate small-scale works—depicts this dramatic scene with emotional intensity, emphasizing themes of chastity, honor, and political upheaval. As an engraving on a trimmed sheet measuring just 3 1/16 × 4 1/2 inches, this print exemplifies the technical mastery of the medium during the Renaissance. Pencz's fine lines and meticulous cross-hatching create depth and texture, allowing for widespread dissemination of classical narratives to a broader audience beyond elite patrons. Part of a series drawing from Roman history, it reflects the era's humanist fascination with antiquity, blending moral storytelling with virtuoso printmaking. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1957), this work invites visitors to ponder enduring ideals of virtue amid tyranny—timeless resonances from a tiny masterpiece.

About the Artist

Georg Pencz · 1490–1550

Comment on works: Religious; History; Portraits