The Washing of the Feet

Title

[CDA 2010]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz Berlin, revised 2010]

This depiction of the washing of feet, which took place during the Last Supper, closely follows the text in the bible (John 13, 1-20).

Christ kneels in front of Peter in the foreground and washes his feet. The other apostles are gathered around them, their gestures express both worry and devout

This depiction of the washing of feet, which took place during the Last Supper, closely follows the text in the bible (John 13, 1-20).

Christ kneels in front of Peter in the foreground and washes his feet. The other apostles are gathered around them, their gestures express both worry and devout prayer. The dining table is visible at the right edge of the panel and in the background Judas leaves the scene through a door.

[see Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 213-214, No. IV.14]

Attributions: Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 213-214, No. IV.14] [Cat. Berlin 1883, 98f.] [Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. II, No. 16] [Waagen, Cat. Berlin 1830, 143, No. 59]
Lucas Cranach the Younger	[Cat. Berlin 1891, No. 374A.]

Production date: 153[7]

Production date

153[7]

[dated]
'153[7] the last number can be interpreted as a 7'
[Waagen, Cat. Berlin 1830, 143, No. 59.]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 149.9 x 113.5 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 149.9 x 113.5 cm
[Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, revised 2010]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia bottom right: winged serpent (with elevated wings) and dated '153[?]'

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom right: winged serpent (with elevated wings) and dated '153[?]'

Inscriptions and Labels

On the painted surface: - bottom left:
'626' (possibly an old inventory number)

Reverse of the panel:

top left, label:
'Staatliche …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

On the painted surface: - bottom left:
'626' (possibly an old inventory number)
Reverse of the panel:
- top left, label:
'Staatliche Museen Berlin - Gemäldegalerie
- Inv.Nr. I. 641
- Kat.Nr. 579
- L. Cranach d. J.'
Top right, label:
'Verwaltung der Schlösser u. Gärten Berlin
- Kat.Nr. 11425
- Lucas Cranach
- Fußwaschung Christi'
Right centre, seal:
'Koenigliche Museen Berlin'
Below, black stamp: 'I.641'
Bottom left and right, labels:
'Gen. Kat.
- No. 11425'
Right below, label:
'KNr. 579
- Inv. I/649'
[Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz Berlin, revised 2010]

Owner: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Repository: Grunewald hunting lodge
Location: Grunewald

CDA ID: DE_smbGG_579
FR (1978) Nr.: FR374A
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_smbGG_579/

Connected Works

Provenance

probably taken from the cathedral (Domkirche) in the 17th century and placed in the Erasmus chapel (Erasmuskapelle) of the Berlin palace; eight Passion paintings are listed in the Berlin palace inventory from 1700
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 213, Nos. IV.14-22]
after its return from Wiesbaden (probably 1932) the painting was lent to the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten (1960) in Charlottenburg palace (Schloss Charlottenburg), depot
1973 returned to Dahlem for an exhibition
Since 5 June 1974 again on loan to Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Gunewald hunting lodge (Jagdschloss Grunewald)
(note in the file)
[Staatliche Museen Preußischer Kulturbesitz Berlin, revised 2011]

Exhibitions

Berlin 2009, 213, 214, Fig. IV.14
Berlin 1980, 102
Berlin 1973, No. 6a

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015

136, Fn. 61

Author	Gunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
Title	Veränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publication	in Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of Publication	Munich
Year of Publication	2015
Link	https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages	128-141

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A

213-214

No. IV.14

Fig. IV.14

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

Tacke 2007 C

81, 82, 84

Author	Andreas Tacke
Title	Mit Cranachs Hilfe: Antireformatorische Kunstwerke vor dem Tridentiner Konzil
Publication	in Bodo Brinkmann, ed., Cranach der Ältere, [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt am Main]
Place of Publication	Ostfildern
Year of Publication	2007
Link	http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/volltexte/2012/2000
Pages	81-89

Show Literature

Cat. Berlin 1996

Fig. 79

Author	Rainald Grosshans, Henning Bock
Editor	Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Title	Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Gesamtverzeichnis
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1996

Show Literature

Erichsen 1994 A

157, 158

Author	Johannes Erichsen
Title	Altäre Lucas Cranachs und seiner Werkstatt vor der Reformation
Publication	in Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhof, eds., Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmen aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
Series	Veröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume	26/94
Place of Publication	Augsburg, Regensburg
Year of Publication	1994
Pages	150-165

Show Literature

Börsch-Supan 1980

No. 3

Author	Helmut Börsch-Supan
Title	Die Kunst in Brandenburg-Preußen: ihre Geschichte von der Renaissance bis zum Biedermeier dargestellt am Kunstbesitz der Berliner Schlösser
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1980

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1980 A

102

Author	Victor H. Elbern, Herbert Schade
Editor	Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Title	Christus und Maria. Menschensohn und Gottesmutter
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1980

Show Literature

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979

145

No. 374A

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

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1973

No. 6a

Author	Wilhelm H. Köhler, Frank Steigerwald
Title	Lucas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Druckgraphik
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1973

Show Literature

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932

294-299

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

Friedländer 1905

Author	Max J. Friedländer
Title	Die Tafelmalerei des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts
Publication	in Oscar Döring, Georg Voss, eds., Meisterwerke der Kunst aus Sachsen und Thüringen
Place of Publication	Magdeburg
Year of Publication	1905
Pages	3-18

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Borrmann 1893

107, 163

Author	Richard Borrmann
Title	Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler von Berlin
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1893

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Cat. Berlin 1883

98-99

Author	Max Jordan
Editor	Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie
Title	Beschreibung des Gebaudes, Geschichte der Sammlung, Verzeichniss Sammtlicher Kunstwerke mit drei Grundrissen
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1883

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Schuchardt 1851 C

15-16

Author	Christian Schuchardt
Title	Lucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of Publication	Leipzig
Year of Publication	1851
Link	http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2

Show Literature

Cat. Berlin 1830

143

No. II.59

Author	Gustav Friedrich Waagen
Editor	Königliches Museum, Berlin
Title	Verzeichniß der Gemälde-Sammlung des Königlichen Museums zu Berlin
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1830

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Puhlmann 1790

No. 32

Author	Johann Gottlieb Puhlmann
Title	Beschreibung der Gemählde welche sich in der Bildergallerie, den daranstossenden Zimmern, und dem weissen Saale im Königl. Schlosse zu Berlin befinden
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1790

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Research History / Discussion

'The last figure of the date was probably reconstructed to create a 7.'

[Waagen 1830, 143, No. 59.]

'Since 1891 the painting has been attributed to Lucas Cranach the Younger due to certain stylistic characteristics and the appearance of the insignia (the feathers of the wings are curved upwards and the middle loop of the snake is higher).'

[Gemäldegalerie, revised 2010]

[Cat. Berlin 1891, No. 374A.]

'The painting is one of nine Passion panels that were originally parts of an unknown number of winged altarpieces. Commissioned by Joachim II Lucas Cranach the Elder and his workshop created them for the collegial church in Berlin (Berliner Stiftskirche) between 1537 and 1538. This is one of the central panels, which was probably flanked by full-length depictions of saints on the wings and complemented by scenes from the old testament on the predella. […] The Berlin Passion cycle was based on the 16 Passion altarpieces, which were commissioned by Cardinal Albrecht from Lucas Cranach the Elder and his workshop for the collegial church in Halle (Hallenser Stiftskirche) (about 1520-1525) and it was the second large painted Passion series created in the Cranach workshop. Not only are numerous central panels now missing from the Berlin Passion altarpieces, like for example ‚The Arrest of Christ‘ or ‚The Crucifixion‘, but in addition the whereabouts of all the wing panels and a large number of the predella panels is unknown. They were probably lost in 1613 when Elector Johann Sigismund converted to Calvinism. […]'

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 213, No. IV.14-22]

'It is uncertain whether the Berlin Passion Cycle began with this scene or if other scenes like the entry into Jerusalem or the Last Supper preceded it.'

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 213-214, No. IV.14]

The Washing of the Feet, 153[7]

Images

Technical studies

2010Technical Examination

Support

- the original surface on the reverse of the panel has been preserved

- a rebate (1 cm in width) is present on all four sides; a thin white ground and a black glaze were applied to the edges, holding the centre in reserve

Framing

- 2009 new frame for the Cranach exhibition

written by Christine Unsinn

2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- thin lines; predominantly short lines in combination with some longer ones

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form (e.g. Christ’s left hand)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'The Washing of the Feet', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_smbGG_579/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'The Washing of the Feet', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_smbGG_579/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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