The Death of Virginia
Lestin’s “Death of Virginia” was painted on a subject borrowed from “The History of Rome” from the city’s foundation to 9 BC by the Roman historian Livy (c.59BC – 17AD). The Roman centurion Lucius Virgilius killed his daughter because he could not protect her from the solicitations of a rich patrician. This event sparked off a revolt by the plebs that overthrew the power of the decimirs. The composition is shifted to the right and somewhat overloaded with entwined bodies. In the foreground lies the molested Virginia. Over her stands Appius Claudius with his arm outstretched and the face of a lascivious faun.
1635
Oil on canvas
192.0 x 197.0cm
2766
Images and text © The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, 2018
Where you'll find this
The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Permanent collection