Adam

Title

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

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.18]

The painting depicts Adam as a life-size nude. His he is turned to the right and he looks in this direction. In his right lowered hand he holds an apple on a branch with leaves, and his left hand is raised to his chest. Adam stands on stony ground against dark green undergrowth, this is in contrast to the flesh paint. Part of a tree is visible along the right edge of the painting and is continued on the pendant painting - Eve.

Attribution: Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 101]

Production dates: about 1537
1537

Production dates

about 1537	[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
1537	[Pendant dated, cda 2021]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 175 x 67.4 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 175 x 67.4 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_GKI1195
FR (1978) Nr.: FR198
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1195/

Connected Works

Provenance

since 1793 recorded in the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Palace)
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 101
Berlin 2009/10, no. III.18

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A

199-200

No. III.18

Editor	Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Title	Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	2009

Show Literature

Most, Wolf et al. 2009

88,90

Author	Mechthild Most, Anja Wolf, Jens Bartoll, Peter Klein, Undine Köhler, Eva Wenders de Calisse
Title	Zur Maltechnik der beiden Cranach und ihrer Werkstatt. Ergebnisse der technologischen Untersuchung der Bildtafeln der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Publication	in 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 Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	2009
Pages	86-97

Show Literature

Schoen 2001

117-125

Author	Christian Schoen
Title	Albrecht Dürer: Adam und Eva. Die Gemälde, ihre Geschichte und Rezeption bei Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und Hans Baldung Grien
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	2001

Show Literature

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979

109

No. 198

Fig. 198

Author	Max J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
Editor	G. Schwartz
Title	Die Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of Publication	Basel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication	1979

Show Literature

Börsch-Supan 1964

45-46

No. 47

Author	Helmut Börsch-Supan
Title	Die Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1964

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937

101

Pl. 85

Editor	Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Title	Lucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1937

Show Literature

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932

166

Author	Max J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
Title	Die Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1932
Link	http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932

Show Literature

Rumpf 1794

138

Author	Johan Daniel Friedrich Rumpf
Title	Neuester 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 Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1794

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Research History / Discussion

‚The first human couple was depicted here by Cranach as two life-size nude figures on separate panels. The tree, which is split down the centre, indicates that they belong together and were originally displayed next to each other. […]

Inspired by Dürer’s famous engraving (1504) and his paintings (1507) Cranach and his workshop have depicted Adam and Eve in more than 50 versions, either on two separate panels or together on one, in different sizes and poses as well as against different backgrounds. The function of these paintings has not yet been completely clarified and probably varied. They may have been used as wing panels, but are also associated with the ‚Weiberliste‘ and warn against female seduction and a disregard of God’s commandments. As the paintings in Berlin were executed in 1537 together with the Passion cycle they may also like it have been intended for the collegial church (Stiftskirche); however as yet no evidence confirming their use as wing panels could be found. Therefore it is conceivable that they were displayed as an ‘Exempla of Virtue’ in a corresponding decorative scheme in a room of the Berlin palace.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

Adam, about 1537

Images

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Adam', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1195/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Adam', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1195/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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