Tarquin and Lucretia
C. 1578
Tintoretto captures a moment of high-stakes drama from Roman history: the assault of Lucretia by Tarquin. Notice the twisted, almost impossible poses of the figures—this is classic Mannerism, where elegance and emotion trump realistic anatomy. Lucretia’s pearl necklace and the sword on the floor tell the rest of the tragic story; her subsequent suicide sparked a rebellion that founded the Roman Republic. Tintoretto was known as 'Il Furioso' (The Furious One) for his speed and energy, and you can definitely feel that frantic energy here.
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