Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine

Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine

Title

Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, No. 18]

Painting on fir

Medium

Painting on fir

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, 36, No. 18]

The central panel is part of a triptych with double-sided painted wings combined together with a superstructure and a predella to create an altar.

The Betrothal of St Catherine is depicted in the presence of three other maidens from the choir of the four Virgines Capitales (four main virgins): St Barbara,

The central panel is part of a triptych with double-sided painted wings combined together with a superstructure and a predella to create an altar.

The Betrothal of St Catherine is depicted in the presence of three other maidens from the choir of the four Virgines Capitales (four main virgins): St Barbara, St Margaret and St Dorothy. References to the betrothal of St Catherine to Christ: 'Ego me Christo sponsam traditi' can be found in the Golden Legend by James de Voragine. The episode, which is rooted in the first half of the 14th century, was incorporated into the story of St Catherine in the Old Bohemian Passional (published in 1495).

According to the legend the saint met a hermit who gave her a small icon of a madonna. When the saint prayed in front of it the Virgin appeared with the infant Christ and Jesus gave St Catherine a precious ring to confirm her as his bride. The ring was displayed as a precious relic in the convent of St Catherine in Sinai, where she was buried.

Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, 36, 37, No. 18]

Production date
1520 - 1530

Production date

1520 - 1530

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, No. 18]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 86 x 62 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 86 x 62 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, No. 18]

Owner
Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
Repository
Kostel svatého Jáchyma a svaté Anny (Church St Joachim and St Anne)
Location
Jáchymov
CDA ID
CZ_StJJ_001a
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_StJJ_001a/

Provenance

  • originally the main altar of the Cemetery Church, All Saints, Jachymov
  • the altar is first documented in [Schmidt 1913, 49] [Lorenz 1925, 215] as part of the interior decoration of the chapel and cemetery church of All Saints in Jachymov

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005 91-93 [36-37] 18
EditorObrazárna Pražského hradu, Kaliopi Chamonikola
TitlePod znamením okrídleného hada. Lucas Cranach a ceské zeme. Under the winged Serpent. Lucas Cranach and the Czech Land
Place of PublicationPrague
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Royt 2001 358
AuthorJan Royt
TitleHorní mesto Jáchymov, reformace a umení. (Gotické umení a jeho historické souvislosti. 1. Sborník grantového projektu Gotické umení v severních Cechách.)
JournalUstecky sbornik historicky
Place of PublicationÚstí nad Labem
Year of Publication2001
Pages351-359
Show Literature
Erichsen 1994 A 157-158
AuthorJohannes Erichsen
TitleAltäre Lucas Cranachs und seiner Werkstatt vor der Reformation
Publicationin Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhof, eds., Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmen aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26/94
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Regensburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages150-165
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 under No. 37
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 under No. 36
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Lorenz 1925 215
AuthorHans Lorenz
TitleBilder aus Alt-Joachimsthal. Umrisse e. Kulturgesch. e. erzgebirg. Bergstadt im 16. Jh.
Place of PublicationJachymov
Year of Publication1925
Show Literature
Schmidt, R. 1913 49
AuthorRichard Schmidt
TitleDer politische Bezirk Skt Joachimsthal. Topographie der historischen und Kunst-Denkmale
SeriesTopographie der historischen und Kunst-Denkmale im Königreiche Böhmen von der Urzeit bis zum Anfange des 19. Jahrhunderts
Volume40
Place of PublicationPrague
Year of Publication1913
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The painting in Jachymov is probably a workshop replica of a version by Cranach, formerly in Berlin and now lost [DE_smbGG-Lost_NONE-001]. Differences between the panels can only be found in some details. On the panel in Jachymov the faces of the Virgin and the saints lack individual features. Both the attribute of St Margaret - a cross - and the crown held by the angels have been simplified; and finally arrangement of the folds in the draperies are different. Despite the well interpreted detail of the landscape in the background of the Jachymov panel a certain logical composition of the picture space is lacking. The artistic quality of the work in Jachymov is less accomplished compared with the Berlin panel.

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, 37, No. 18]

[Royt 2001, 358] noted differences between the painting style of the central altar panel which he attributed to a painter from Cranach’s workshop and the paintings on the predella, wings and top panels, which he considers to be made by an artist from Bohemia.

In addition to the different wood species employed for the support the character of the underdrawing and the quality of the painting style also document that several painters participated in the production of the painting.

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, 36, 37, No. 18]

Connected Works

Jachimov Retabel [left wing]: The Annunciation [recto]; St John the Evangelist [verso]
  • Jachimov Retabel [left wing]: The Annunciation [recto]; St John the Evangelist [verso], 1520 - 1530
  • CZ_StJJ_001b
  • Painting
  • Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
Jachimov Retabel [right wing]: The Visitation [recto]; St James the Greater [verso]
  • Jachimov Retabel [right wing]: The Visitation [recto]; St James the Greater [verso], 1520 - 1530
  • CZ_StJJ_001c
  • Painting
  • Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
Jachimov Retabel [Predella]: The Adoration of the Magi
  • Jachimov Retabel [Predella]: The Adoration of the Magi, 1520 - 1530
  • CZ_StJJ_001d
  • Painting
  • Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
Jachimov Retabel [superstructure]: The Death of the Virgin
  • Jachimov Retabel [superstructure]: The Death of the Virgin, 1520 - 1530
  • CZ_StJJ_001e
  • Painting
  • Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
Jachimov Retabel [superstructure]: The Coronation of the Virgin
  • Jachimov Retabel [superstructure]: The Coronation of the Virgin, 1520 - 1530
  • CZ_StJJ_001f
  • Painting
  • Rímskokatolická farnost Jáchymov (Katholic Church of Jachimov)
  • Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine, 1520 - 1530

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

03. 2018Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, diluted, black medium, brush; the initial design may have been executed employing a dry drawing material

Type/Ductus:

- the initial design (lines with a stylus) is relatively binding and probably after a pre-existing design; it was subsequently reinforced with a loose, freehand brush application

- thin to somewhat broader lines; frequently short and arched

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines delineate the main contours, and describe esential details and facial features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- Workshop repetition of a painting that was in Berlin before the WWII, but does not seem to have survived [DE_smbGG-Lost_NONE-001]

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2019]

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Support

- the panel is consists of five fir planks and is 10 mm thick; however unlike the central panel according to the conservation report (Hamsikova/Hamsik 1993) the wings, predella and superstructure are painted on lime wood

- it is beveled along the edges to 5 mm

- lint covers the joins, and is visible through the thin ground

Ground and Imprimatura

- thin, chalk ground

Underdrawing

- black fluid medium applied with a brush

[Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005, 36, 37, No. 18]

Conservation History

Date1993

  • conservation treatment by Radana Hamsíková
  • conservation treatment by Mojmír Hamsík

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_StJJ_001a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Jachimov Retabel [central panel]: The Betrothal of St Catherine', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_StJJ_001a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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