Large 17th Century French Antique Oak Carved Panel Depicting Lucretia - The Representation of Womanly Virtue

Large 17th Century French Antique Oak Carved Panel Depicting Lucretia – The Representation of Womanly Virtue

A large 17th Century antique carved oak panel depicting Lucretia.

Beautifully carved.

French origin.

Presented in its original heavily carved oak frame.

The Story of Lucretia

The story begins with a drinking bet between some young men at the home of Sextus Tarquinius, a son of the king of Rome. They decide to surprise their wives to see how they behave when they are not expecting their husbands. The wife of Collatinus, Lucretia, is behaving virtuously, while the wives of the king's sons are not.

Several days later, Sextus Tarquinius goes to Collatinus' home and is given hospitality. When everyone else is asleep in the house, he goes to Lucretia's bedroom and threatens her with a sword, demanding and begging that she submit to his advances. She shows herself to be unafraid of death, and then he threatens that he will kill her and place her nude body next to the nude body of a servant, bringing shame on her family as this will imply adultery with her social inferior.

Her rape is thus the trigger for the Roman revolution. Her uncle and husband are leaders of the revolution and the newly-established republic. Lucretia's brother and husband are the first Roman consuls.

Condition - as per the images. There is surface wear to the frame commensurate with age and a loss to the bottom right corner. The panel itself is in good order. This carved panel displays incredibly well. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size: Height 54 cm x Width 52 cm x Depth 4 cm (21" x 20 1/2" x 1 1/2 ")

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We are a member of the following 3 Professional Institutions:

1. LAPADA (London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association) –  LAPADA is the UK’s largest trade association for professional art & antique dealers (representing approximately 500 UK dealer members). All items are backed by our LAPADA guarantee.

2. CINOA – CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations (representing 5000 dealers from 32 associations in 22 countries).

3. The Norfolk & Suffolk Antique Dealers Association.

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