The Story of Virginia (Botticelli)

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The Story of Virginia (Italian: Storie di Virginia)

Sandro Botticelli, 1500-1504

tempera on panel

86 × 165 cm

Accademia Carrara, Bergamo

The Story of Virginia (Italian, Storie di Virginia), is a painting created by Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. It is a tempera on panel and measures 86 cm tall and 165 cm wide. It is currently held at the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy.

It is one of the last works that Botticelli made, exemplifying virtue, like that with The Story of Lucretia.

The painting has as a fundamental theme violated honor and matrimonial fidelity . It is read from left to right:

1. Virginia, in the company of other women, is violated or assaulted by Marcus Claudius Tacitus, who wants to force her to yield to Appius Claudius Caecus;
2. He carries her to the tribunal presided by Appius Claudius who declares her a slave;
3. The father and the husband of the woman plead for clemency
4. The father, to preserve the family honor, kills her and flees on horseback.

This story is developed within the framework of an architecture classic, in which the figures are agitated, painted with vibrant colors.

[edit] References

• "Botticelli", Los grandes genios del arte, n.º 29, Eileen Romano (dir.), Unidad Editorial, S.A., 2005, ISBN 84-89780-97-8