Philipp Melanchthon

Philipp Melanchthon

Title

Philipp Melanchthon

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Painting on alder wood

Medium

Painting on alder wood

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthons as a half-length figure against a grey background. Melanchthon faces to the left and presents the viewer with an open bible. His hand and the book extend over the text block in the lower part of the painting.

[Görres, cda 2013]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Production date
1579

Production date

1579

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 71 x 49 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 71 x 49 cm

  • [Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia centre right with winged serpent and the date '1579'.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia centre right with winged serpent and the date '1579'.

  • [Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Inscriptions and Labels

  • top: 'IN EFFIEGIEM REVERENDI VIRI D PHILIPP MELANCHTHONIS.'

  • bottom:
    'IAPETI DE GENE PRIOR MAIORE LVTHERO NEMO FVIT TV PAR DOCTE …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top:

  • 'IN EFFIEGIEM REVERENDI VIRI D PHILIPP MELANCHTHONIS.'

    • bottom:

  • 'IAPETI DE GENE PRIOR MAIORE LVTHERO NEMO FVIT TV PAR DOCTE MELANTHON ERAS.'

  • The book is open on the page showing Paul's letter to the Romans, Chapter 8

  • [Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Owner
Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Leipzig
Repository
Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Leipzig
Location
Leipzig
CDA ID
DE_SML_kK23
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK23/

Provenance

  • from the estate of the Leipzig City Architect (Stadtbaumeister) and judge (Stadtrichter) Jacob Meyer
  • late 17th century: gift to the municipal library (Stadtbibliothek) Leipzig
  • Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 106]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Rhein 2015 47, Fn. 34
AuthorStefan Rhein
TitleLucas Cranach der Jüngere und Philipp Melanchthon. Zu den Spuren einer Wittenberger Beziehung
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages42-51
Show Literature
Cat. Leipzig 2006 106-107
AuthorVolker Rodekamp
TitleLeipzig original: Stadtgeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Völkerschlacht. Katalog zur Dauerausstellung des Stadtgeschichtlichen Museums Leipzig im Alten Rathaus. Teil I
Place of PublicationAltenburg
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Gurlitt 1896 353
AuthorCornelius Gurlitt
TitleBeschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler des Königreichs Sachsen. Stadt Leipzig
Volume2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1896
Show Literature
Weitz 1790 7
AuthorAntonio Weitz
TitleKurze Nachricht von E. Hoch-Edlen und Hochw. Raths zu Leipzig Bibliotec [...]
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1790
Show Literature

Connected Works

Martin Luther
  • Martin Luther, 1579
  • DE_SML_kK21
  • Painting
  • Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Leipzig
  • Philipp Melanchthon, 1579

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

02. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing; possibly some traced lines in the face

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger

Comments:

- possibly with reference to a preparatory drawing or even in part transferred from a pre-existing design (facial features)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK23/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK23/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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