Tarquin and Lucretia (from the Stories of Roman History, 11) ,
ca. 1546-1547
Engraving

Museum Purchase
1985.13

Being a writer herself, Christine de Pizan went through a period of severe sadness when she discovered the misogyny of many male writers of her time (the fifteenth century). But she finally realized that the more women have been wrongfully attacked, the greater waxes the merit of their glory. For Christine, such was the glory of Lucretia, who was raped by Tarquin under threat that he would accuse her of adultery if she would not give in. Lucretia committed suicide "to show my innocence." Christine was "grieved when men argue that women want to be raped...indeed, rape is the greatest possible sorrow for women." The story of Lucretia, the noblest Roman woman, supreme in chastity, proves this. Pencz, however, in making both Tarquin and Lucretia naked and in giving Lucretia a somewhat foolish expression, perhaps does not demonstrate the highest motives in this print. But the raw dishonesty of rape is revealed in that open room. The power of Lucretia's integrity resulted in the overthrow of the tyranny of the Tarquin family and the establishment of the Roman republic. It is a point Christine continually makes that the power women's virtue is a foundation for both earthly and heavenly good. Christine does not, obviously, take the modern view that Lucretia is merely another example of disingenuous male myth-making.