Borgia from the "Crimes by Cuevas" portfolio

Jose Luis Cuevas

"Borgia" from the 'Crimes by Cuevas' portfolio is a color lithograph by the great Mexican printmaker Jose Luis Cuevas (1934-2017). It was printed by Atelier Mourlot in New York in 1968. The reference for this print is Fuentes 67, illustrated in color.

This image is from Cuevas' 1968 portfolio of 11 images "Crimes by Cuevas," which addresses criminality throughout history. This lithograph depicts Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, the "first family of crime."

The extraordinarily beautiful Lucrezia Borgia was born in 1480, the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Her brother Cesare, with whom she supposedly had an incestuous relationship, and she plotted and seduced their ways to great power in 16th century. There were rumors of poisoning and murder and much incest amongst her family. Lucrezia Borgia died at age 39 giving birth to her 8th child.

Cesare Borgia, born in 1475 became a Cardinal at age 18 and reportedly had his brother Giovanni, commander of the papal armies murdered. He later became the first person to resign his cardinance in 1498 to become a military man. He was killed in 1507 fighting in Viana, Spain. He had fathered at least 11 illegitimate children. He was immortalized in Machiavelli's "The Prince."