PROBABLY FRENCH, LATE 16TH OR EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A BRONZE FIGURE OF LUCRETIA
PROBABLY FRENCH, LATE 16TH OR EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Depicted standing and plunging a dagger into her breast; on an integrally cast circular base and later spreading circular basque breccia marble pedestal inscribed in red on the reverse with the inventory number '212' and the remains of a circular gold label inscribed 'BRITISH... QUE D... ASSOCIATION ....100 YEARS OLD'; blackish brown surface with lighter high points covered with a golden brown lacquer; chips to pedestal
5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm.) high; 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm.) high, overall

Provenance

Purchased by Alfred (1853-1906) or Otto Beit (1865-1930) between 1904 and 1913.
Thence by descent to Lady (Clementine) Beit (1915-2005) by whom donated to the Alfred Beit Foundation in 2005.

Literature

W. Bode, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures and Bronzes in the Possession of Mr. Otto Beit, London, 1913, p. 107, no. 212, as 'Imitator of Gian Bologna'.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
W. Bode, Königliche Museen zu Berlin, Die Italienische Bronzen, Berlin, 1904, no. 396, pp. 22-23, pl. XXIV.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Lucretia, a virtuous noblewoman, committed suicide after being compromised by the son of the tyrant Tarquin the Proud. Her death led to a rebellion which eventually forced the latter into exile with his family.

The present bronze figure is known in at least one other version, published by Bode in his catalogue of the Italian bronzes in Berlin as 'Italian, second half 16th century' (Bode, 1904, loc. cit.).

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