Tarquin and Lucretia

painting by Titian

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July 14, 2026

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Titian's painting, Tarquin and Lucretia, depicts a violent scene from ancient Roman legend. The story, as recounted by historians like Livy, involves Sextus Tarquinius, son of the tyrannical king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who raped Lucretia, the virtuous wife of a nobleman. After this assault, Lucretia took her own life, an act that ignited a rebellion leading to the overthrow of the Tarquin dynasty and the establishment of the Roman Republic in 509 BCE. Titian's rendition focuses on the violent attack itself, rather than Lucretia's subsequent suicide, highlighting the rich colors of Tarquin's attire against the backdrop of the scene. This narrative is a foundational story in Roman history, symbolizing the transition from monarchy to a republic founded on principles of liberty.123

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Titian
Mythological paintings
…for Philip II was the Tarquin and Lucretia, a dramatic work of great vigor that proves that the aged master had lost none of his creative powers. Rather than Lucretia’s suicide because of her rape by Tarquin, which is the more common subject, Titian chose to represent Tarquin’s violent attack…
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…for Philip II was the Tarquin and Lucretia, a dramatic work of great vigor that proves that the aged master had lost none of his creative powers. Rather than Lucretia’s suicide because of her rape by Tarquin, which is the more common subject, Titian chose to represent Tarquin’s violent attack…
Read More