For your consideration is an original framed oil on canvas painting titled, "Rape of Lucretia" by Felice Ficherelli, circa 1700s, Baroque style. The painting is a close, reduced replica of a much larger canvas by Ficherelli on display in the Accademia di San Luca, Rome. Faintly visible on the reverse of the canvas the title is written along the top edge, Sextus Tarquin 510 B. C. is written below it. Research has an approximate time frame of the painting as from the 18th century. There is almost a complete absence of paintings showing Lucretia since 1800. The story of Lucretia, who died by her own hand in 510 to 507 BCE, is well known. Various versions, all of which date from about 500 years later, contain slightly different details. Lucretia, anglicized as Lucrece, was a noblewoman in ancient Rome, whose rape by Sextus Tarquinius (Tarquin) and subsequent suicide precipitated a rebellion that overthrew the Roman monarchy and led to the transition of the Roman government from a kingdom to a republic. Felice Ficherelli (1605-1660) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, born in San Gimignano and active mainly in Tuscany. Among Ficherelli's early patrons was Conte Bardi, who persuaded Ficherelli to move to Florence and to study with the painter Jacopo da Empoli. Empoli's influence is evident in the sumptuous fabrics seen in many of Ficherelli's works. Ficherelli was nicknamed "Felice Riposo" for his retiring nature. Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque style are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance. A story of passion, strong emotion, and gravity, this has been depicted in many paintings with written accounts by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and many others. Benjamin Britten also wrote an opera The Rape of Lucretia, first performed in 1946. This oil painting is in poor to fair condition with evidence of multiple repairs noted, and the canvas and paint are brittle. Professionally mounted in a contemporary gold gilt hardwood frame. Visible art measures 23.5"W x 33.75"L, and the frame is 26"W x 36"L x 1.5"D.*