Epitaph for Nickel Volkmar: Defamation of Susanna [recto]; The Last Judgement [verso]

Epitaph for Nickel Volkmar: Defamation of Susanna [recto]; The Last Judgement [verso]

Title

Epitaph for Nickel Volkmar: Defamation of Susanna [recto]; The Last Judgement [verso]

[Sandner, cda 2018]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Sandner, cda 2018]

Recto: the story of Susanna¿s defamation and her salvation through the intervention of the prophet Daniel is told in a series of episodes. The events unfold within the pictorial depth of a landscape and a building shown at the right side of the painting. The illustrations are in part complemented

Recto: the story of Susanna¿s defamation and her salvation through the intervention of the prophet Daniel is told in a series of episodes. The events unfold within the pictorial depth of a landscape and a building shown at the right side of the painting. The illustrations are in part complemented by biblical quotations.

Verso: The depiction of the Last Judgement shows the Lord at the centre in front of a rainbow with his feet resting on the globe. A lily and sword come out of his mouth. The aureole of clouds framing him is flanked by the saints and angels playing trombones. The Virgin and St John the Baptist are represented in a prominent position. The lower half of the image depicts the souls of the dead emerging from their graves and the righteous are accompanied up to heaven by angels. The damned souls on the right side are cast by demons into the flames of Hell. Six examples of Christian behavior are illustrated at the bottom edge of the pictorial space. Each of these examples benefits Christ and should encourage the viewer to embrace the ideals of Christian love.

Attribution
Antonius Heusler

Attribution

Antonius Heusler

[Steche 1885, 47]

Production date
about 1559

Production date

about 1559

[Sandner, cda 2018]

Dimensions
Dimensions including frame: 148-188 x 158 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions including frame: 148-188 x 158 cm

  • [Sandner, cda 2018]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Recto top: 'Es war ein man zu Babylon/mit namen joiakim/Der hatte ein weib // die hieß Susanna eine tochter …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • Recto top: 'Es war ein man zu Babylon/mit namen joiakim/Der hatte ein weib // die hieß Susanna eine tochter Hellia/die war seer schöne und dazu Gotfürchtig // denn sie hatte frome Eltern die sie unterweiset hatten nach dem Gesetz Mose'

  • Recto left: 'Und da man sie hin zum // tode füret erwecket er denn // Geist eines jungen Knabe[n] // der hies Daniel/Der fing // an laut zu ruffen'

  • 'Ich will unschuldig sein an dieses // blut. Und alles Volk wendet sich // umb zu im vnd fraget [...] was er // mit solchen worten meinete [...] // sprach Seid ir von Israel solche // Narre/das ir eine Tochter zum // verdamme [...] die sache fordern // vnd gewis werdet keine widerub furs gericht'

  • Recto right: 'Vnd das volk gleubet den zweien/als Richtern und Obersten im volck // vnd verurteileten die Susanna zum tode. Sie aber schrey mit laut= // ter stimme vnd sprach/herr ewiger Gott/der du kennest alle heimligkeit/vn[d] // weissest alle ding zuvor/ehe sie geschehen/Du weissest/das diese falsch zeugnis // wider mich gegeben haben. vnd nu sihe/Ich muß // sterben so ich doch solchs vnschuldig bin das sie boslich // vber mich gelogen haben/Und Gott erhoret ir ruffe'

  • Verso, upper central: 'Des menschen son kompt yn den wolken vnd alle heilige engel mit yhm mit // grosser krafft und herlichkeit/Matt.XXIIII'

  • Verso, top left: 'kompt her yhr gebenedeyten meines va= // ters/ererbet das reych das euch bereyt ist // von anbegin der welt'

  • Verso, top right: 'Gehet hin von myr yhr vermaledeyten yn das // ewige feur das bereyt dem teuffel vnd seinen // engeln Matt XX.V.'

  • Verso center: 'Nickel volkmar der Jüngere von Leibzig ist in Gott verschide[n] am So[n]tag // Quasimodogeniti den andern aprilis(?) den [...] Gnade.'

  • [cda 2018]

Owner
Erzgebirgsmuseum Annaberg-Buchholz
Repository
Erzgebirgsmuseum Annaberg-Buchholz
Location
Annaberg-Buchholz
CDA ID
DE_EMA_EM-V-2275-K
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_EMA_EM-V-2275-K/

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Steche 1885 47-48
AuthorRichard Steche
TitleBeschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler des Königreichs Sachsen. Band 4: Amthauptmannschaft Annaberg
Volume4
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1885
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The central inscription on the Last Judgement names the deceased and day of his death:

'Nickel volkmar der Jüngere von Leibzig ist in Gott verschide[n] am So[n]tag // Quasimodogeniti den andern aprilis den [...] Gnade.'

The information ‚den andern aprilis’ could be interpreted as the 2nd of April, but as yet the condition of the inscription does not allow the year of death to be established. However, by locating the day stated in the Liturgical calendar conclusions can be drawn about the year of death. The years examined span a period from 1540 to 1561/62, which was the year of Antonius Heusler’s death. During this period Quasimodogeniti (the first Sunday after Easter) only fell once on the 2nd of April in 1559. If this reading is used to interpret the inscription the 2nd of April 1559 is the probably date of death of Nickel Volkmar/Volkmann and as such serves as a decisive point of reference for dating the epitaph. [Daniel Görres, cda 2018]

  • Epitaph for Nickel Volkmar: Defamation of Susanna [recto]; The Last Judgement [verso], about 1559

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