Venus and Cupid as the Honey Thief

Venus and Cupid as the Honey Thief

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp)

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Löcher, Cat. Nuremburg 1997, 154]

Venus and Cupid are depicted as full-length figures in front of the trunk of a beech tree and thick undergrowth. There is a view of the sky behind. Cupid, the God of Love, holds a honeycomb in his hand. He complains to his mother Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and

Venus and Cupid are depicted as full-length figures in front of the trunk of a beech tree and thick undergrowth. There is a view of the sky behind. Cupid, the God of Love, holds a honeycomb in his hand. He complains to his mother Venus, the Goddess of Beauty and Love, that he has been stung by a bee. She informs him that his arrows of Love are no less painful. The motif alerts us to the consequences of abandoned lust. There is a latin inscription in the top right corner.

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

[Display label, GNM 2010]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]
[Lutze, Wiegand, Cat. Nuremberg 1936/1937, 38-39][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 155]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Koepplin 1997, written correspondence][1]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. 398 A][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 155]

Production date
about 1537

Production date

about 1537

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 50.1 x 34.4 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 50.1 x 34.4 cm

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom left: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing right

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom left: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing right

  • [cda 2011]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • top right, within a frame: a four line Latin inscription in roman capitals:

'DVM PVER ALVEOLO FVRATVR MELLA CVPIDO/FVRANTI DIGITVM …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top right, within a frame:

  • a four line Latin inscription in roman capitals:

  • 'DVM PVER ALVEOLO FVRATVR MELLA CVPIDO/FVRANTI DIGITVM CVSPITE [should be: CVSPIDE] FIXIT APIS /SIC ETIAM NOBIS BREVIS ET PERITVRA VOLVPTAS/QVAM PETIMVS TRISTI MIXTA DOLORE NOCET'

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the frame: in pencil '4,IP,35/185, 22'

  • in chalk '2/5 (.), 29'

  • paper label: printed 'C.M.A'

  • typed 'Tr 5238/7'

  • 'Nr. 69/Gm 213'

  • Ausst. L'Europe Humaniste, Paris

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Owner
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Repository
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Location
Nuremberg
CDA ID
DE_GNMN_Gm213
FR (1978) Nr.
FR398A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_GNMN_Gm213/

Provenance

  • Gsell Collection, Vienna
  • 1886 acquired as a gift from Eugen Felix, Leipzig

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

'According to Reber 1892, 142 it could be No. 2000 in the 1598 Ficklerschen Inventary of the Bavarian ducal art cabinet in Munich.'

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 155]

Exhibitions

Philadelphia 1936, No. 14
Schaffenhausen 1947, No. 29
Brüssel 1955, No. 26, Fig. 31
Tokyo 1984, No. 34

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 155]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat.Hess, Hirschfelder, Bär 2010 413 Fig. 434
AuthorFrank Bär
EditorDaniel Hess, Dagmar Hirschfelder, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleRenaissance. Barock. Aufklärung. Kunst und Kultur vom 16. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert
SeriesDie Schausammlungen des Germanischen Nationalmuseums
Volume3
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Hinz 2010 B 45
AuthorBerthold Hinz
TitleAktmalerei bei Cranach. Ein neuer Geschäftszweig
Publicationin Guido Messling, ed., Die Welt des Lucas Cranach. Ein Künstler im Zeitalter von Dürer, Tizian und Metsys, Exhib. Cat. Brussels
Place of PublicationBrussels
Year of Publication2010
Pages42-53
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Nuremberg 2004 47-49
AuthorBarbara Dienst
EditingManfred Knedlik
TitleFaszination Meisterwerk. Dürer, Rembrandt ,Riemenschneider
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Hinz 2001 32-49
AuthorBerthold Hinz
TitleVenus im Norden
Publicationin Claudia Denk, ed., Venus. Bilder einer Göttin, Exhib. Cat. Munich
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2001
Pages32-49
Show Literature
Löcher 2000 108
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie deutschen Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts im Germanischen Nationalmuseums. Nachträge zum Bestandskatalog
JournalAnzeiger des Germanischen Nationalmuseums
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication2000
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 154-155
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Strieder 1994 A No. 253
AuthorPeter Strieder
EditorGermanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleFührer durch die Sammlungen, Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature
Bott 1985 No. 253
AuthorGerhard Bott
EditorGermanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleFührer durch die Sammlungen, Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1985
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Tokyo 1984 No. 34
EditorUlrich Schneider
TitleDeutsche Kunst und Kultur zwischen Mittelalter und Neuzeit aus dem Germanischen Nationalmuseum in Nürnberg
Place of PublicationTokyo
Year of Publication1984
Show Literature
Strieder 1980 No. 257
AuthorPeter Strieder, Leonie von Wilckens
EditorGermanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleGermanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg. Führer durch die Sammlungen
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1980
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 151 No. 398A
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Strieder 1977 No. 257
AuthorPeter Strieder, Leonie von Wilckens
EditorGermanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleGermanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg. Führer durch die Sammlungen
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1977
Show Literature
Strieder 1975 170
AuthorPeter Strieder
TitleLucas-Cranach-Ausstellung in Basel (Ausst. Besprechung)
JournalKunstchronik
IssueJg. 28, Heft 5
Year of Publication1975
Pages165-171
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 658 572
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Hütt 1973 271-272 Fig. 173
AuthorWolfgang Hütt
TitleDeutsche Malerei und Graphik der frühbürgerlichen Revolution
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1973
Show Literature
Strieder 1966 8, 42
AuthorPeter Strieder
TitleDeutsche Malerei in der Dürerzeit
Place of PublicationKönigstein i. Taunus
Year of Publication1966
Show Literature
Strieder 1964 No. 17
AuthorPeter Strieder
TitleDeutsche Malerei. Germanisches Nationalmuseum. Gotik/Renaissance
Volume1
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1964
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Brussels 1955 No. 26 Fig. 31
EditorPalais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
TitleL'Europe humaniste
Place of PublicationBrussels
Year of Publication1955
Show Literature
Wilckens 1952 124
AuthorLeonie von Wilckens
TitleDeutsche Kunst und Kultur im Germanischen Nationalmuseum
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1952
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Schaffhausen 1947 No. 29
EditorMuseum zu Allerheiligen Schaffhausen
TitleMeisterwerke altdeutscher Malerei
Place of PublicationSchaffhausen
Year of Publication1947
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1936/1937 38-39 Fig. 372
AuthorEberhard Lutze, Eberhard Wiegand
TitleKataloge des Germanischen Nationalmuseums zu Nürnberg. Die Gemälde des 13.-16. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Philadelphia 1936/1937 014
EditorThe Oberlaender Trust, Philadelphia
TitleGerman Art from the fifteenth to the twentieth Century. An exhibition of paintings, water colors and drawings, held under the auspices of The Oberlaender Trust, The Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], 1936 - 1937
Place of PublicationPhiladelphia
Year of Publication1936
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 321a
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
Eßwein, Hausenstein 1923 Plate 130
AuthorHermann Esswein, Wilhelm Hausenstein
TitleDas Bild. Atlanten zur Kunst VIII-IX. Das Deutsche Bild des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1923
Show Literature
Reber 1892 142
AuthorFranz von Reber
TitleDie Gemälde der herzoglich bayerischen Kunstkammer nach dem Fickler'schen Inventar von 1598 (Vortrag vom 5. März 1892)
Publicationin Sitzungsberichte der philosophisch-philologischen und der historischen Classe der k. b. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1892
Pages137-168
Show Literature
Eye 1880 140
AuthorAugust von Eye, P. E. Börner
TitleDie Kunstsammlung von Eugen Felix
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1880
Show Literature
  • Venus and Cupid as the Honey Thief, about 1537

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: limewood (Tilia sp.)

  • analysed by Peter Klein

09. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid dark medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- the underdrawing is only partially visible

- thin lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painted version

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology
  • Infrared reflectography
  • Stereomicroscopy
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Support

- limewood (Tilia sp)

- 2 boards. Widths from the left: top: 23.4, 10.6 cm, bottom: 22.1, 12.1 cm

- the panel was reduced to a thickness of 0.5 cm

- a rectangular piece of wood (c. 6.5 x 4.3 cm) was inserted above the head of Venus. The grain runs in the same direction as that of the panel

- small knots were left in the wood

- there is a thin, dark application over the join beneath the figure of Venus

- the panel was trimmed slightly along the sides

Ground and Imprimatura

- the ground was applied and the panel was painted before it was framed

Underdrawing

- executed with a brush

- contours and lines within the shapes

- lines visibles on the left arm and feet of Venus and the right arm of Cupid may indicate veins

Paint Layers and Gilding

- the texture of the bark of the tree was created by dragging a stiff brush through the wet paint

- the sky was painted over the leaves of the tree on the right

- the mid green tone of the vegetation was applied with a coarse brush using cross-hatching

- the inscription was executed with an ink brush without employing guide lines

- the black bands at the top and the bottom are original

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Condition Reports

Date1997

Support:

  • thinned to a thickness of 0.5 cm

  • a narrow piece of lime wood was added at an early stage to straighten the left edge

  • there is a vertical indentation on Venus' cheek

  • there are splits along the top edge

  • the splits suggest that the planks were extremely warped and this was corrected with a cradle

  • after the panel was cradled a split developed, which runs through the panel from top to bottom

  • old wood worm damage

  • the panel was trimmed slightly either side

  • there are 10 dowels along the top of the panel and 13 along the bottom. They vary in size and distance from each other and are probably the remains of an old frame fitting

Reverse:

  • cradled

  • both the cradle and the reverse have a resin coating

Painted surface:

  • the yellowish glazes in the face of Venus and those above her right knee have been abraded, as well as the modelling of her legs

  • the veil has been partially reconstructed as has the veil in the background

  • the glazes in the background along the contours are new

  • there is dotted retouching on the neck, shoulder and arm as well as in the shadow of Cupid's body

  • the sky is abraded

  • the fabric application over the join has caused the paint to appear darker in an area exending from the left breast of Venus to her left knee. This phenomenon has been supressed by retouching

  • the paint layers in the areas of wood worm damage have sunk

  • the varnish on the inscription and the sky was removed

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg1997, 154]

Conservation History

Date1959

As yet no further information

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 154]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Venus and Cupid as the Honey Thief', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_GNMN_Gm213/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Venus and Cupid as the Honey Thief', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_GNMN_Gm213/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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