Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Title

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

[CDA 2011]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

A full-length portrait of Elector Johann the Steadfast facing right and shown wearing his official coat and hat, with the electoral sword against a black background on a tiled marble floor.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attributions
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015, 107]

Production date
about 1540 - 1545

Production date

about 1540 - 1545

[Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015, 107] [Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 214 x 100 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 214 x 100 cm

  • [Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

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 2010]

Owner
Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
Repository
Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
Location
Weimar
CDA ID
DE_KSW_G18
FR (1978) Nr.
FR338F
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G18/

Provenance

  • the three paintings were brought from Wittenberg to Weimar together with, among others, portraits of Luther and Melanchthon during the imprisonment of Johann Friedrich and after the relocation of his residence in 1549. The intention to store them in the Wartburg was not carried out [Junius 1926, 226-260, particularly p. 246].
  • in the inventory of the 'Neues Lusthaus' from 1572 five saxon electors ('V sechsischer Churfürst') were listed among the 'Conterfetten' in the 'Mittleren Sahl' (also so-called green salon (Grüner Saal) on the first floor) (Sta W: Reg. Aa 1240-61, fol. 107); in 1602/03 they were in the same location ('Funff unterschiedliche taffeln, in rahmen gefasst, daran funff Churfursten zu Sachssen, Jeder in seinem Chur Rocke mitt dem Churschwedt Undt Hutt abgemahlt', see Sta W: A 551 a, fol. 224 v). In addition to the three present portraits the remaining two could only have depicted two of the three previous electors: Ernst (1441-1486), Friedrich II. (1412-1464) and Friedrich I. (1370-1428).
    At the time of Joh. Seb. Bach the paintings were in the hereditary ranks of the court church (Hofkirche). Saved from the fire of 1774, they hung until 1804 in the Stadtkirche St. Peter and Paul, from there they were transferred to the ducal library [Großherzogliche Bibliothek) [Schöll 1847, 151, Fn.]; [Verzeichnis XVII b 44, 45, 46]
  • 1869 entered the museum

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 85, 86]

Exhibitions

Weimar 1883, Nos. 54, 59, 67
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 65 a

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015 107, 108 66 Fig. 66
EditorWolfgang Holler, Karin Kolb
TitleCranach in Weimar, [Weimar, Schiller-Museum, 3 April - 14 June 2015]
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 84-87 No. 29a
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 137 No 338F
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 65 a
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 272
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
Junius 1926 246
AuthorWilhelm Junius
TitleAus der Gefangenschaft des Kurfürsten Johann Friedrich von Sachsen
JournalZeitschrift des Vereins für Thüringische Geschichte und Altertumskunde
IssueN.F. 26=34.1926
Year of Publication1926
Pages226-260
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1913 Nos. 156-158
EditorWillibald Hermens
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1913
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1910 Nos. 148, 149, 152
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
IssueSixth edition
Year of Publication1910
Show Literature
Gabelentz-Linsingen 1910 31
AuthorHans von der Gabelentz-Linsingen
TitleFührer durch das Großherzogliche Museum in Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1910
Show Literature
Devrient 1897 111, 112 No. 11
AuthorErnst Devrient
TitleDie älteren Ernestiner
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1897
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1894 34 Nos. 18-20
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1894
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1884 27 Nos. 15-17
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1884
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1883 Nos. 54, 59, 67
EditorKarl Ruland
TitleDie Luther-Ausstellung des Großherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1874 39 Nos. 68-70
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1874
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1869 35 Nos. 49-51
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1869
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1867 Nos. 121-123
AuthorSixt Thon
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKatalog der Großherzoglichen Kunstsammlung im Palais zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1867
Show Literature
Parthey 1863-1864 692, 693 (Bd. I) No. 228
AuthorGustav Parthey
TitleDeutscher Bildersaal. Verzeichnis der in Deutschland vorhandenen Oelbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1864
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 129-130 411
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature
Heller 1844 100
AuthorJoseph Heller
TitleDas Leben und die Werke Lucas Cranach's
Place of PublicationBamberg
Year of Publication1844
Show Literature
Heller 1821 226
AuthorJoseph Heller
TitleVersuch über das Leben und die Werke Lucas Cranachs
Place of PublicationBamberg
Year of Publication1821
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/heller1821
Show Literature
Meyer 1817 331
AuthorH. Meyer
TitleGemälde von Lukas Kranach dem ältern und jüngern in Weimar
Publicationin Christian August Vulpius, ed., Die Vorzeit oder Geschichte, Dichtung, Kunst und Literatur des Vor- und Mittel-Alters
Volume1
Place of PublicationErfurt
Year of Publication1817
Show Literature

Connected Works

Johann Friedrich I. the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony
  • Johann Friedrich I. the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony, about 1540 - 1545
  • DE_KSW_G17
  • Painting
  • Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony
  • Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony, about 1540 - 1545
  • DE_KSW_G16
  • Painting
  • Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, about 1540 - 1545

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • x_radiograph

Documents

Technical studies

06.10.2014Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • x_radiograph

Equipment: ERESCO 42 MF 4 from the company GE.

Scanner: CRxFlex.

Parameters:70 KV, 6mA, 20 seconds

Distance from the object: 3m

[HfBK Dresden, Prof. I. Mohrmann, K. Risse, 06.10.2014]

  • created by K. Risse
  • created by HfBK Dresden
  • created by I. Mohrmann

Condition Reports

Date1988

  • the reverse of all three paintings is impregnated with tar and reinforced with a cradle

  • numerous retouchings and overpaint, particularly in the foreground

(Restoration from 1866)

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

Conservation History

Date1956

No information

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

Date1866

  • the reverse of all three paintings is impregnated with tar and reinforced with a cradle

  • numerous retouchings and overpaint, particularly in the foreground

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 84]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G18/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G18/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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