''The Story of Virginia'' (
Italian, ''Storie di Virginia''), is a painting by the
Italian Renaissance painter
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
Sandro Botticelli. It is a
tempera on panel and measures 86
cm tall and 165
cm wide. It is currently held by the
Accademia Carrara in
Bergamo
Bergamo (; lmo, Bèrghem ; from the proto- Germanic elements *''berg +*heim'', the "mountain home") is a city in the alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from Switzerland, the alpine lakes Como ...
,
Italy.
It is one of the last works that Botticelli made exemplifying virtue, like
''The Story of Lucretia''.
The painting has as a fundamental theme of violated honor and matrimonial fidelity. The combination of several scenes in a single image was common in the art of the early Renaissance. These are read from left to right:
*
Virginia, in the company of other women, is violated or assaulted by Marcus Claudius, who wants to force her to yield to
Appius Claudius Crassus;
* He carries her to the tribunal presided by Appius Claudius who declares her a slave;
* The father and the husband of the woman plead for clemency
* The father, to preserve the family honor, kills her and flees on horseback.
This story is developed within a setting of
classical architecture, in which the figures are agitated, painted with vibrant colors.
See also
*
List of works by Sandro Botticelli
References
*"Botticelli", ''Los grandes genios del arte'', n.º 29, Eileen Romano (dir.), Unidad Editorial, S.A., 2005,
1500s paintings
Paintings by Sandro Botticelli
Collections of the Accademia Carrara
Horses in art
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