Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony

Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony

Titles

Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony

[CDA 2011]

Churfürst Johann Friedrich von Sachsen Contrefait

[Inventar 1667-92, fol. 15, No. 24][1] [1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

Bildtnis Churfürst Johann Friedrich

[Inventar 1644, fol. 28][1] [1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26, 214]

Compliant with the male priority of rank Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous occupies more of the pictorial space than his wife and is represented by Cranach supporting himself in the left corner [...]. The visible brushstrokes show that like in many Cranach portraits the blue background was painted around the contours

Compliant with the male priority of rank Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous occupies more of the pictorial space than his wife and is represented by Cranach supporting himself in the left corner [...]. The visible brushstrokes show that like in many Cranach portraits the blue background was painted around the contours of the figure.

[Sebastian Dohe, in Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015, 258]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 87] [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

[cda 2018]

Production date
1535

Production date

1535

[pendant dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 19.8 x 13.8 cm [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 19.8 x 13.8 cm [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

  • Dimensions of painted surface: 19.8 x 13.8 cm [cda 2010]

  • Dimensions including frame: 23.5 x 17.4 x 1.4 cm [cda 2010]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the frame: - bottom right:
paper label with handwritten entry in blue ink: '52/13'

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the frame: - bottom right:

  • paper label with handwritten entry in blue ink: '52/13'

Owner
Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
Repository
Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
Location
Gotha
CDA ID
DE_SMG_SG13
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG13/

Provenance

  • recorded in the 'Kaufhaus Gotha' from 1644 [Inventar 1644, fol. 28][1]
  • recorded in Gotha Castle since 1691[Inventar 1667-1702, fol. 15, No. 24][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 26]

Exhibitions

Gotha 1994
Gotha 2001, No. 1.8
Gotha/Kassel 2015, No. 87

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 258, 259 87 Pl. p. 259
EditorJulia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper
TitleBild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Gotha, Herzogliches Museum; Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Schloss Wilhelmshöhe]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2001 1.8
EditorGotha Kultur, Allmuth Schuttwolf
TitleErnst der Fromme (1601-1675), Bauherr und Sammler. Katalog zum 400. Geburtstag Herzog Ernsts I. von Sachsen-Gotha und Altenburg
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication2001
Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994 26
EditorStiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
TitleGotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Klein 1994 B 214
AuthorPeter Klein
TitleHolzartenbestimmung und dendrochronologische Analyse an Gemäldetafeln von Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und seiner Werkstatt
PublicationAllmuth Schuttwolf, ed., Gotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Gotha
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Pages210-219
Schade, Schuttwolf 1994 26, 27, 40, 60 1.8 Fig. p. 26, Pl. p. 40
AuthorWerner Schade, Allmuth Schuttwolf
TitleMalerei und Plastik
Publicationin Allmuth Schuttwolf, ed., Gotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Gotha
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Pages15-94
Parthey 1863-1864 693 (Bd. 1) No. 252
AuthorGustav Parthey
TitleDeutscher Bildersaal. Verzeichnis der in Deutschland vorhandenen Oelbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1864

Research History / Discussion

It is questionable whether or not the portraits were created for a particular occasion: the date of creation '1535' located next to the signature is both the year of the birth and death of Johann Ernst, one of the pairs sons. In 1535 Johann Friedrich also acheived some success within the context of his strained relationship with the Habsburgs being officially granted electoral dignity by King Ferdinand on behalf of the emperor, and at the end of the year a federal convention took place for the Schmalkaldic League. There were therefore numerous official occasions for which such a double portrait may have been used and here as was frequently the case with Cranach portraits for the Ernestine court it is a variation of particular pictorial type. This is illustrated by the comparision with a double portrait in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen dated to 1533 and of an almost identical size, but exhibiting a slight variation in the attire and the position of the arms. The Gotha portraits were not subsequently used as a gift to a foreign party. It is more likely that they were used within the family to illustrate the dynastic descent as they can be traced back to the collection of Ernst the Pious of Saxony-Gotha and Altenburg, the greatgrandson of the sitters.

[Sebatian Dohe, in Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015, 258]

  • Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony, 1535

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • x_radiograph
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Beech wood - a measurement was not possible

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 214]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

04. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material (dark chalk ?) or lines applied with a brush over traced lines (?)

Type/Ductus:

- thin traced lines (head)

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- probably with reference to a preparatory drawing or transferred from a pre-existing design (traced)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

1995Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • x_radiograph
  • created by Asmus Steuerlein

1994Technical Examination

  • overall
  • reverse
  • detail
  • detail

Framing

- original frame

- frame with mitred joints; a Gothic cornice; water-guilding on red bole; external batten, sides and the reverse are painted black

  • written by Gunnar Heydenreich

1990Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

'Beech wood, could not be measured.'

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 214]

  • examined by Peter Klein

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG13/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, 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_SMG_SG13/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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