National Geographic History - July 2019

A TRAGIC TALE

like many Botticelli works, “The Tragedy of Lu-

cretia” was commissioned as a wedding gift. Cre-

ated in the 1490s, the painting depicts one brutal

foundation story of the Roman republic as told

by first-century a.d. Roman historian Livy: The

Roman king’s son rapes the chaste Lucretia, who

kills herself after the attack. Her death rallies the

people of Rome to overthrow the king and found

the republic. Botticelli depicted the story in three

scenes. The far left panel shows the king’s son

holding Lucretia at knifepoint. On the far right, Lu-

cretia’s lifeless body is discovered by her shocked

family. In the middle and largest panel Lucretia’s

dead body is displayed as Lucius Junius Brutus,

future founder of the Republic, stirs unrest among

the people, turning them against the tyrannical

ALBUM

“THE TRAGEDY OF LUCRETIA” (CIRCA 1500)

ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER MUSEUM, BOSTON