Porträt einer Venezianerin als Lucrezia

Portrait of a Woman inspired by Lucretia

The sitter, probably a Venetian noblewoman, holds an image of the classical heroine Lucretia, killing herself after being raped - the letter, in Latin, has her last words. She was a common example of virtue for women. In contrast, the sitter exposes her bust and has stuffed her wedding chain down her bodice. She fixes our gaze, in control.