Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony

Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

Medium

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

The duke is depicted as a half-length figure turned slightly to the right and he looks in this direction. He wears a simple black robe and a large chain around his neck, which is partially covered by his beard. The background is greenish.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Production dates
1534 - 1537
after 1537

Production dates

1534 - 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]

after 1537

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 43.3 x 32.6 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 43.3 x 32.6 cm

  • (trimmed at right, left and bottom edges)

  • [Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

  • [Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]

  • [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia, top left: winged serpent (with dropped wings)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia, top left: winged serpent (with dropped wings)

  • [Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Owner
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Staatsgalerie im Schloss Johannisburg, Aschaffenburg
Location
Aschaffenburg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS_WAF168
FR (1978) Nr.
FR413
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/

Provenance

  • 1827 acquired from the Boisserée Collection
    [Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
    [Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]
  • 1911 Gallery in Schleissheim
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]
  • 1963 Alte Pinakothek, Munich
    [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011 134 No. WAF 168
AuthorMartin Schawe
EditorBayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
TitleCranach in Bayern
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Decot 2007 Fig. 1
AuthorRolf Decot
TitleEin Kirchenfürst in schwieriger Zeit: Albrecht von Brandenburg (1513/14-1545)
Publicationin Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht, Schatzkammer, Residenz, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Pages55-75
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007 292-293 No. 36 Fig. p. 293
EditorGerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke
TitleCranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht - Schatzkammer - Residenz. Ausstellungskatalog Schloss Johannisburg und Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 154 No. 413 Fig. 413
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The portrait is related to the Altarpiece from 1534 in the Cathedral of Meißen.

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

  • Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony, 1534 - 1537

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

24.11.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology
  • analysis

Support

- 2 planks, most recent annual ring 1531, the earliest date the painting could have been produced (including a 2 year seasoning period) is 1533

- examined on the 17.06.2010

[Martin Schawe, Alte Pinakothek München, 01.04.2011]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

06. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk? or traced lines reinforced with a brush?

Type/Ductus:

- traced underdrawing

- delicate and fine to thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- possibly transferred from a preparatory drawing or a pre-existing design (traced)

- top left traces of a coat-of-arms visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by BStGS Doerner Institut

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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