ARTS

Lucretia, Before and After: Two Rembrandt paintings of Lucretia, the Roman heroine whose rape drove her to commit suicide, are united in a new exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington for the first time since they were completed more than 300 years ago. One painting, from the National Gallery’s permanent collection, left, depicts Lucretia with dagger raised, anticipating her self-sacrifice. The second painting, from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, portrays Lucretia after she has stabbed herself, looking away sadly.