DOI issue:
Nr. 1-4
DOI article:Miziołek, Jerzy: The story of Lucretia on an Early-Renaissance "Cassone" at the National Museum in Warsaw
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18943#0044
9. The banishing of Tarquin from Romę, detail of the Warsaw cassoneafter partial conservation
(Photo P. Grochowski)
and five-aisled basilica7) strongly suggest that the finał episodes of the story of
Lucretia, which is known from numerous sources from classical times as well as the
Middle Ages and the modern era are depicted here.8 The reading matter relating to
these texts underlines the correctness of such an interpretation of the scenes. In
addition, it is possible to compare these scenes with similar ones on other cassoni
dating from the early - Renaissance era; in particular some either little known or
unpublished forzieri which were decoratd with gilt gesso.
In the first volume of his Ab urbe condita, Titus Livy tells the story of one of the
ancient world's most famous heroines. In 509BC the king of Romę, Tarquin the Proud
beseiged on of the towns of Latium, Ardea, with his armies. During supper, prepared
in his sons' tent, an argument broke out over the qualities of their wives and the
participants decided there and then to return to Romę in order to settle the
disagreement. The instigator of this noctural expedition was Collatin, husband of
Lucretia, who was convinced that his wife rosę above all other women. The visit to
Romę and subsequently to the residence of Collatin, named Collatium, confirmed
Lucretia's qualities; while the royal daughters-indaw had been feasting, Lucretia had
been spinning wool with her servants. The triumphant Collatin gave a feast, during
which one of the royal sons, Sixtus Tarquin, overcome by Lucretia's beauty and her
virtue spoken so highly of by everyone, decided to take possession of her by force.
Several days later, he secretly madę his way from the seige of Ardea to Collatium. Here,
received like a close friend of the family, he stole into the chamber of Collatin's wife
38
(Photo P. Grochowski)
and five-aisled basilica7) strongly suggest that the finał episodes of the story of
Lucretia, which is known from numerous sources from classical times as well as the
Middle Ages and the modern era are depicted here.8 The reading matter relating to
these texts underlines the correctness of such an interpretation of the scenes. In
addition, it is possible to compare these scenes with similar ones on other cassoni
dating from the early - Renaissance era; in particular some either little known or
unpublished forzieri which were decoratd with gilt gesso.
In the first volume of his Ab urbe condita, Titus Livy tells the story of one of the
ancient world's most famous heroines. In 509BC the king of Romę, Tarquin the Proud
beseiged on of the towns of Latium, Ardea, with his armies. During supper, prepared
in his sons' tent, an argument broke out over the qualities of their wives and the
participants decided there and then to return to Romę in order to settle the
disagreement. The instigator of this noctural expedition was Collatin, husband of
Lucretia, who was convinced that his wife rosę above all other women. The visit to
Romę and subsequently to the residence of Collatin, named Collatium, confirmed
Lucretia's qualities; while the royal daughters-indaw had been feasting, Lucretia had
been spinning wool with her servants. The triumphant Collatin gave a feast, during
which one of the royal sons, Sixtus Tarquin, overcome by Lucretia's beauty and her
virtue spoken so highly of by everyone, decided to take possession of her by force.
Several days later, he secretly madę his way from the seige of Ardea to Collatium. Here,
received like a close friend of the family, he stole into the chamber of Collatin's wife
38