Saint Lucretia c. 1520

Dosso Dossi painted Saint Lucretia on panel in the first half of the 16th century. Lucretia was a noblewoman of ancient Rome, who, according to legend, killed herself after being raped by a prince. Her suicide was said to have incited a revolt that led to the overthrow of the Roman monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic. Here, Lucretia is presented as a symbol of female virtue, but also as a figure caught in the tensions between public duty and private suffering. The painting reflects the social and political turmoil of Renaissance Italy, where city-states were constantly at war and where questions of honor and reputation were matters of life and death. The Church was a central institution for questions of morality and virtue. To better understand this painting, it would be helpful to research the history of the city of Ferrara where Dossi worked, as well as the role of women in Renaissance society. Only through historical investigation can we understand the complex meanings of art.