Death of Lucretia c. 16th century

Curator: Georg Pencz created this small engraving, "Death of Lucretia," sometime in the first half of the 16th century. It's currently located here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, right away, the drama just leaps out, doesn't it? All that swirling energy focused on one point: Lucretia, collapsed on the floor. It feels like a scene from a play. Curator: Indeed. Pencz captures a pivotal moment in Roman history and legend. Lucretia, having been dishonored, takes her own life, sparking a revolt that ends the Roman monarchy. Editor: It's amazing how much emotion he packs into such a tiny space. The grief, the anger... you can almost feel the weight of history pressing down. That discarded dagger says so much. Curator: The dagger, a symbol of lost honor, certainly carries significant weight. And consider the figures surrounding her: witnesses to her tragedy, soon to be agents of change. Editor: It really does make you think about the power of symbols, even in a work this small. Curator: Absolutely. Editor: This really stuck with me; you realize just how long we’ve been dealing with these kinds of conflicts.