David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

Title

David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)

[CDA 2012]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 201-202, no. III.20]

The story of King David is told in the Old Testament (2. Samuel, II). He falls in love with Bathsheba, the wife of his general Uria. She first becomes his lover and then after he had sent her husband to his death she became his second wife.

In the

The story of King David is told in the Old Testament (2. Samuel, II). He falls in love with Bathsheba, the wife of his general Uria. She first becomes his lover and then after he had sent her husband to his death she became his second wife.

In the painting Bathsheba is depicted sitting on the banks of a river. She wears a contemporary dark red robe and numerous pieces of jewellery in accordance with court attire of the time. One of her entourage washes her feet. Four more elegantly dressed ladies are gathered around her. However, she only pays attention to King David who stands in the tower and plays the harp.

[see Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 201-202, No. III.20]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011] [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 113]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

'seems more like Lucas Cranach the Younger'
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 141, no. 357F]

Production dates
about 1540 - 1545
about 1540

Production dates

about 1540 - 1545

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

about 1540

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 113]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 209.5 x 107 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 209.5 x 107 cm

  • [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

none

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1186
FR (1978) Nr.
FR357F
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1186/

Provenance

  • since 1793 in the Berlin palace
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 201-202, no. III.20]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 113
Berlin 2009/10, No. III.20

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Wohlberedt 2015 194, 203
AuthorAstrid Wohlberedt
TitleDie Gerechtigkeit des Kaisers Trajan aus der Cranach-Werkstatt, ehemals im Gotischen Haus in Wörlitz
Publicationin Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz, ed., Cranach im Gotischen Haus in Wörlitz, Exhib. Cat. Wörlitz
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages194-203
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 201-202 No. III.20 Fig. III.20
EditorStiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
TitleCranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Show Literature
Most, Wolf et al. 2009 88-89
AuthorMechthild Most, Anja Wolf, Peter Klein, Undine Köhler, Jens Bartoll, Eva Wenders de Calisse
TitleZur Maltechnik der beiden Cranach und ihrer Werkstatt. Ergebnisse der technologischen Untersuchung der Bildtafeln der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Publicationin Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg, Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri-St. Marien, eds., Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern, Exhib. Cat. Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Pages86-97
Show Literature
Erichsen 1997
AuthorJohannes Erichsen
TitleZwei Schweriner Dokumente zu Lucas Cranach
JournalKunstchronik
Issue50/2
Year of Publication1997
Pages49-53
Show Literature
Michaelis 1989 25
AuthorRainer Michaelis
TitleDeutsche Gemälde 14.-18. Jahrhundert. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1989
Show Literature
Moos 1988
AuthorPeter von Moos
TitleGeschichte als Topik. Das rhetorische Exemplum von der Antike zur Neuzeit und die historiae im "Policraticus" Johanns von Salisbury
Place of PublicationHildesheim, New York
Year of Publication1988
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 141 No. 357F
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 562-565, 577-578
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
Schade 1974 439 No. 324
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 41 113
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 288f
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
Friedländer 1906/1907 67-70
AuthorMax J. Friedländer
TitleAltdeutsche und altniederländische Schulen
Publicationin Paul Seidel, ed., Gemälde alter Meister im Besitze Seiner Majestät des deutschen Kaisers und Königs von Preussen
Place of PublicationBerlin, Leipzig, Vienna, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1906
Pages45-77
Show Literature
Rumpf 1794 131
AuthorJohan Daniel Friedrich Rumpf
TitleNeuester Wegweiser durch die Königl. Preußischen Staaten. Ein Handbuch für fremde und Einheimische. Beschreibung der aeussern und innern Merkwürdigkeiten der Königlichen Schlösser in Berlin, Charlottenburg und bey Potsdam
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1794
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

‘The four large exemplum panels, which belonged to Elector Joachim II depict stories from classical antiquity and the old testament, that were popular during the renaissance as exempla of virtue. They were distributed in books for the education of princes (>>Fürstenspiegel<<) as well as being used to decorate representative rooms in castles and town halls. Associated with the depiction of these narratives was the idea that the virtues and vices of illustrious figures could provide standards and role models for political action. The exempla of virtue could on the one hand have a moralizing-didactic character by illustrating correct behavior to the princes or councillors; they could also serve the legitimization of political power and interests by justifying the ruler’s virtuous behavior. The panels in Berlin illustrate the monarchical virtues of moderation, wisdom, justice and courage. […]

It may be assumed, that the complex content and composition of the four paintings were based on a design by the father. These were then executed rapidly – probably under the supervision of Lucas Cranach the Younger - by workshop members. This would explain slight inconsistencies in the proportions and other formal details. Friedländer, Rosenberg and Schade on the other hand suggest that the painting is an autographed work by the son.‘

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 200-201, nos. III.20-23]

‚Since the 1520s Cranach depicted this subject in various formats, employing different techniques and adapting the composition to fit the requirements. […] A pen and ink drawing in Leipzig (Cat. No. III. 24) probably served as a preparatory drawing for this painting. In the painting the modestly dressed Bathsheba hardly has the appearance of a seductress and the adultery seems to have been initiated by the king. As such the painting is less a warning against female lust and more a reminder of the sin of adultery and in association with that a plea for moderation.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 201-202, no. III.20]

Connected Works

The Judgment of Paris (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
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  • DE_SPSG_GKI1185
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  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
David and Goliath (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
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The Judgment of Kambyses (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels)
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  • DE_SPSG_GKI1188
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
  • David and Bathseba (Elector Joachim II's exemplum panels), about 1540 - 1545

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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