Lucretia Preparing to Kill Herself 1537 - 1547

Editor: This is "Lucretia Preparing to Kill Herself," an engraving by Enea Vico from sometime between 1537 and 1547. I'm struck by the way Lucretia is posed; she seems almost contemplative, rather than desperate, before such a violent act. How do you interpret this work, looking at the imagery Vico chose to depict? Curator: The power here rests in the contrast between the idealized nude form of Lucretia and the gravity of her decision. Nudity in this period often symbolizes truth and vulnerability, but also classical heroism. Notice how Vico subtly blends these ideas: the setting, including what seems to be Mount Vesuvius in the distance, root her in a specific cultural memory, referencing classical virtue within a specific Italian Renaissance context. What feelings are evoked as she is both a Roman icon and also present in her own time and place? Editor: That tension is palpable. I see how the artist tries to bridge different periods and ideals using her form, and that distant mountain. Is there a commentary embedded in this connection of ideals and places? Curator: The mountain's presence can be seen as a metaphor for the weight of history bearing down on her. Renaissance viewers would have been familiar with the story of Lucretia – a symbol of republican virtue whose rape led to the overthrow of the Roman monarchy. This image invites reflection on female virtue, political power, and the consequences of violence across centuries. Also note her location by the window. What symbolic role might the window provide as both looking into the interior of this tragic act, as well as towards the mountain on the horizon? Editor: It adds another layer to the emotional depth of this, reflecting how private acts can trigger great shifts in society's historical timeline. Thank you! Curator: A very moving engraving indeed; Vico allows Lucretia to have her say, beyond just that act itself.