The Beheading of John the Baptist

The Beheading of John the Baptist

Title

The Beheading of John the Baptist

[Angermuseum, revised 2012]

Painting on copper

Medium

Painting on copper

[Angermuseum, revised 2012]
[Cat. Erfurt 1924, 30, No. 141]

A halberdier stands at the left in the foreground and looks out at the viewer. Directly behind him the corpse of St John the Baptist lies on the ground. He has already been decapitated by the henchman positioned at the centre of the composition, who places the severed head on

A halberdier stands at the left in the foreground and looks out at the viewer. Directly behind him the corpse of St John the Baptist lies on the ground. He has already been decapitated by the henchman positioned at the centre of the composition, who places the severed head on Salome's silver plate. She is shown standing at the right edge of the painting. There is a coat-of-arms in the bottom left corner.

[cda 2016]

Attributions
Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder
Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

'Elias Hau[...]f[...]'

[Angermuseum, revised 2012]

Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder

'Nachfolger Lucas Cranach der Ältere'
[Cat. Erfurt 1924, 30, No. 141]

Production dates
about 1600
about 1550 - 1575

Production dates

about 1600

[Angermuseum, revised 2012]

about 1550 - 1575

[Cat. Erfurt 1924, 30, No. 141]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 84 x 60 cm (clear dimensions within frame)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 84 x 60 cm (clear dimensions within frame)

  • [cda 2012]

  • 87 x 62 cm

  • [Cat. Erfurt 1924, 30, No. 141]

  • Dimensions including frame: 105.5 x 79.5 x 7.4 cm

  • [cda 2012]

Signature / Dating
  • on the halberd:

Signature / Dating

    • on the halberd:

  • 'ELIAS HAU[...]F[?] PINXIT. 1619[?]'; in yellow paint

  • [cda 2012]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • bottom left a coat-of-arms and the inscription:
    'W.P.D.P.P.A.P.O.A.B'

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • bottom left a coat-of-arms and the inscription:

  • 'W.P.D.P.P.A.P.O.A.B'

Owner
Angermuseum, Erfurt
Repository
Angermuseum, Erfurt
Location
Erfurt
CDA ID
DE_AME_01
FR (1978) Nr.
FR073A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AME_01/

Provenance

  • Wilczek Collection
    [Cat. Erfurt 1924, 30, No. 141]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Prague 2016 176, 177
EditorOlga Kotková
TitleCranach. Ze všech stran. From all sides.
Place of PublicationPrague
Year of Publication2016
Pages16-180
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005 52, 118 (English version 24, 45) under nos. 4, 31
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
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 No. 73A
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Cat. Erfurt 1924 30 141
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Städtischen Museums zu Erfurt. Mittelalterliche Sammlung. Gemäldegalerie
Place of PublicationErfurt
Year of Publication1924
Show Literature
  • The Beheading of John the Baptist, about 1600

Images

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

Technical studies

04. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material?

Type/Ductus:

- copied lines

- delicate, fine lines (traced?)

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe essential details; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- hardly any alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form; changes (e.g. an additional castle in the background)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- after a pre-existing design by Lucas Cranach the Elder (copy)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Versions

The Beheading of St John the Baptist
  • The Beheading of St John the Baptist, 1515
  • CZ_ESGK_KE2367
  • Painting
  • Archdiocese of Olomouc
The Beheading of St John the Baptist
  • The Beheading of St John the Baptist, 1600 - 1625
  • CZ_NGP_DO5399
  • Painting
  • Národní galerie v Praze (National Gallery in Prague)
The Beheading of St John the Baptist
  • The Beheading of St John the Baptist, after 1515
  • RO_MNaR_8110-144
  • Painting
  • Muzeul Național de Artă al României (MNaR)

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Beheading of John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AME_01/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Beheading of John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AME_01/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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