Moritz, Elector of Saxony

Moritz, Elector of Saxony

Title

Moritz, Elector of Saxony

[CDA 2011]

Painting on canvas, with plain weave

Medium

Painting on canvas, with plain weave

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Half-length portrait of Elector Moritz of Saxony (1521-1553) in armor against a dark background.

[cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Production date
1578

Production date

1578

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 121.5 x 93 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 121.5 x 93 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia: winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1578'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia: winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1578'

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the support: [Gal.-Nr.]

Stretcher:
in blue chalk: 'Curfürst Moritz v. Sachsen 1553'; on a label: 'No. 303-16'; …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the support: [Gal.-Nr.]

  • Stretcher:

  • in blue chalk: 'Curfürst Moritz v. Sachsen 1553'; on a label: 'No. 303-16'; in green paint: 'Ra. + Bi. 10.5 kg'; in yellow paint: 'B34'

  • [Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_RKH74
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_RKH74/

Provenance

  • 1578 commissioned by Elector August

[Sächs. HStADD, Copial 440 (I). Transcription Dr. Jochen Vötsch, Dresden][1]
[Schade 1974, Dok. 511][1]
[Lindau 1883, 274][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 508, 511, Fn. 2]

Exhibitions

Washington, New York, San Francisco 1978/79, No. 112 (Moritz)
Florence 1982/83, No. III.18
New Delhi 1984/85, No. 11
Dresden1989, No. 139, 144
Dresden 1991/92, 8, 9
Dresden 1995, 44
Bonn, Vienna 2000, No. 255
Torgau 2004, Bd. 1, No. 383, 384
Chemnitz 2005, No. 48.1

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 506, 508-511 48.1 Pl. p. 506
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Kolb 2005 A 117, 168 Fn. 17 48.1
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleCranach - Die Gemälde in Dresden und ihre Geschichte
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages112-173
Show Literature
Kolb 2005 C 537 48.1
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleDokumentation zum Dresdener Cranach-Bestand
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages526-572
Show Literature
Schölzel 2005 194, 195 48.1
AuthorChristoph Schölzel
TitleZeichnungen unter der Farbschicht. Zu den Unterzeichnungen von Cranachs Gemälden in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister und in der Rüstkammer Dresden
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages182-197
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Torgau 2004 Nos. 383, 384 (Bd. 1)
EditorHarald Marx, Eckhard Kluth, Cecilie Hollberg
TitleGlaube und Macht. Sachsen im Europa der Reformationszeit. 2. Sächsische Landesaussellung Schloss Hartenfels Torgau
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Bonn, Vienna 2000 No. 255
EditorAusstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Wien, Petra Kruse
TitleKaiser Karl V. (1500-1558). Macht und Ohnmacht Europas
Place of PublicationMilan
Year of Publication2000
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1995 44
AuthorJutta Bäumel
TitleDie Rüstkammer zu Dresden. Führer durch die Ausstellung im Semperbau
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1991/92 8, 9
AuthorDieter Schaal
TitleDie Kurfürsten von Sachsen. Repräsentation in Bildnis und Rüstung [Ausstellung des Historischen Museums im Dresdner Schloss, Dresden]
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1991
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1989 144 No. 139
EditorManfred Bachmann, Albertinum, Dresden
TitleDer silberne Boden. Kunst und Bergbau in Sachsen
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1989
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. New Delhi 1984/1985 No. 11
AuthorNational Museum, New Delhi
TitleArt Treasures from Dresden (German Democratic Republic), National Museum Neu Delhi
Place of PublicationFaridabad
Year of Publication1984
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Florence 1982/83 No. III.18
EditorGloria Fossi
TitleDresda sull'Arno. Da Cranach a Van Gogh e oltre. Cento Capolavori dalla Pinacoteca di Dresda [Palazzo Pitti, Florence]
Place of PublicationMilan
Year of Publication1982
Show Literature
Bach 1979 262-264
AuthorBach
TitleEin Gemäldeschicksal. Zu Entstehung und Verbleib Lucas Cranach d. J. Bildnis des sächsischen Kurfürsten Johann Friedrich
JournalSächsische Heimatblätter
Issue25 (1979) 6
Year of Publication1979
Pages262-264
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Washington, New York, San Fancisco 1978/79 No. 12
Authorn. a.
TitleThe Splendor of Dresden. Five Centuries of Art Collecting. An Exhibition from the State Art Collections of Dresden [National Gallery of Art, Washington; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco]
Place of PublicationNew Haven, Connecticut
Year of Publication1978
Show Literature
Schade 1974 105, 451
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Bach, Decker 1973
AuthorIngo Bach, Friedrich Decker
TitleEin neuentdecktes Gemälde Lucas Cranachs des Jüngeren
JournalNeue Museumskunde
Issue16/2
Year of Publication1973
Pages142-144
Show Literature
Schade 1961/1962 41-48
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleZum Werk der Cranach
JournalJahrbuch der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Issue3/4
Year of Publication1962
Pages29-49
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1930 B 12, 13
EditorMinisterium für Volksbildung
TitleDas Historische Museum: Rüstkammer und Gewehrgalerie. Sonderdruck aus dem Führer durch die Staatliche Kunstsammlungen zu Dresden
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1930
Show Literature
Sponsel 1906 070 (mentioned)
AuthorJean Louis Sponsel
TitleFürsten-Bildnisse aus dem Hause Wettin
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1906
Show Literature
Lindau 1883 273, 276
AuthorMartin Bernhard Lindau
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Lebensbild aus dem Zeitalter der Reformation
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Rahnfeld vor 1876 7
AuthorF. A. Rahnfeld
TitleNotizen für den Beschauer des Königlichen historischen Museums im Zwingergebäude zu Dresden
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1876
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1873 5
Authorn. a.
TitleFührer durch das Königliche Historische Museum in Zwingergebäude zu Dresden
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1873
Link https://digital.slub-dresden.de/werkansicht/dlf/92872/5
Show Literature
Frenzel 1850 5, 6
AuthorF. A. Frenzel
TitleDer Führer durch das historische Museum zu Dresden
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1850
Show Literature
Quandt 1834 33-37
AuthorJohann Gottlob von Quandt
TitleAndeutung für Beschauer des historischen Museums
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1834
Show Literature

Connected Works

Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony
  • Johann Friedrich, Elector of Saxony, 1578
  • DE_SKD_RKH73
  • Painting
  • Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
  • Moritz, Elector of Saxony, 1578

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • irr
  • other
  • other

Documents

Technical studies

26.11.2012 - 30.11.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing Material:

- dry ?

Technique:

- Economic, thin lines on the eyes, the nose, the mouth and the beard, not binding for the subsequent painted version, the position of the vertical axis has been shifted slightly around the mouth; dry material; the position of the eyes has been altered (during the painting process they were raised by one eye’s width and positioned slightly further to the left), the position of the ears was also changed and they were raised.[1]

- the double chain over the breastplate was later covered by the red sash during the painting process, compare also the portrait RK H73, Kurfürst Johann Friedrich der Großmütige von Sachsen

- the position of the left hand was higher up in an earlier stage of the painting process

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

Economic, thin lines on the eyes, the nose, the mouth and the beard, not binding for the subsequent painted version, the position of the vertical axis has been shifted slightly around the mouth; dry material; the position of the eyes has been altered (during the painting process they were raised by one eye’s width and positioned slightly further to the left), the position of the ears was also changed and they were raised.

Framing

New frame: Renaissance style black frame with decorative elements at the corners and in the centre of the members, 19th or 20th century

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • other
  • reverse

Support

- canvas with plain weave (thread count per cm² 16 x 16) attached to a stretcher

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

[stretcher presumably not original – observation by Heydenreich]

Condition Reports

Date2005

Support:

  • there is a patch in the centre of the canvas

Painted surface:

  • abrasion particularly on the head and left shoulder

  • some retouching in the background and along the top edge of the painting

[Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Conservation History

Date1905

[Sächs. HStADD, 13458 SKD, GG Nr. 8, Bd. 12, Bl. 6, 56][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 506]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Moritz, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_RKH74/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Moritz, 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_SKD_RKH74/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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