Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel]

Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel]

Title

Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel]

[Wartburg-Stiftung revised 2013]

Painting on oak wood

Medium

Painting on oak wood

[Wartburg-Stiftung revised 2013]
[Klein, Report 1993]

The central panel depicts Elector Friedrich the Wise as a half-length figure facing right against a blue background. There is a reddish balustrade behind him with a vase of flowers on the left. Friedrich is wearing a fur-trimmed cloak and his grey hair is covered by a black beret. He

The central panel depicts Elector Friedrich the Wise as a half-length figure facing right against a blue background. There is a reddish balustrade behind him with a vase of flowers on the left. Friedrich is wearing a fur-trimmed cloak and his grey hair is covered by a black beret. He holds his lapel with his left hand and presents the imperial crown to the viewer with his right hand.

[Görres, cda 2013]

Attributions
Monogrammist ILG (Johann Lange, Gotha?)
Johann Lange

Attributions

Monogrammist ILG (Johann Lange, Gotha?)

[Koepplin 2007 A, 304] [Schuttwolf 2011, 51]
Sporadically different reading of the monogram:
'CIL' [Sandner 1998 B, 137]
'GIL' [curatorial files, Wartburg-Stiftung 1990]
'C.L.' [Schuchardt 1990, 102, 107]

Johann Lange

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 90]

Production date
1566

Production date

1566

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 59.6 x 56.1 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 59.6 x 56.1 cm

  • [cda 2013]

Signature / Dating
  • at the right above the balustrade:

Signature / Dating

    • at the right above the balustrade:

  • date '1566' and linked monogram, which has been variously interpreted:

  • 'GIL' [Wartburg-Stiftung]

  • 'CIL' [Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1996, No. 91]

  • 'C.L.' [Schuchardt 1990, 102, 107]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • incorporated into the decoration of the vase: 'IPR'
    [Schuttwolf 2011, 51]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • incorporated into the decoration of the vase:

  • 'IPR'

  • [Schuttwolf 2011, 51]

Owner
Wartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach
Repository
Wartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach
Location
Eisenach
CDA ID
DE_WSE_M0073a
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_WSE_M0073a/

Provenance

1936 acquired by Dr. Schenk zu Schweinsberg from the collection of the Kunstsammlung Gotha

[Wartburg-Stiftung, revised 2013]

Exhibitions

Gotha/Kassel 2015, No. 90

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 262, 263 90 Pl. p. 263
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
Show Literature
Schuchardt 2015 A 10 Fig. 1
AuthorGünter Schuchardt
TitleCranach und Luther-Aspekte einer Partnerschaft
Publicationin Günther Schuchardt, ed., Cranach, Luther und die Bildnisse, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 2015
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2015
Pages10-23
Show Literature
Schuttwolf 2011 51 065
AuthorAllmuth Schuttwolf
TitleVerlustdokumentation der Gothaer Kunstsammlungen. Die Gemäldesammlung
Volume2
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Koepplin 2007 A 303-305, 306 3
AuthorDieter Koepplin
TitleKurfürst Friedrich der Weise mit der nicht millionenschweren Kaiserkrone in der Hand
Publicationin Andreas Tacke, ed., Lucas Cranach 1553/2003. Wittenberger Tagungsbeiträge anlässlich des 450. Todesjahres Lucas Cranachs des Älteren
SeriesSchriften der Stiftung Luthergedenkstätten in Sachsen-Anhalt
Volume7
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication2007
Pages299-312
Show Literature
Schulze 2004 108, 112-114
AuthorIngrid Schulze
TitleLucas Cranach d. J. und die protestantische Bildkunst in Sachsen und Thüringen. Frömmigkeit, Theologie, Fürstenreformation
Place of PublicationBucha near Jena
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Bauer, Hellmann 2003 147 1.23
EditorJoachim Bauer, Brigitte Hellmann
TitleVerlust und Gewinn. Johann Friedrich I., Kurfürst von Sachsen
Place of PublicationWeimar, Jena
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998 137 No. 15.6 Figs. 15.6a, 15.6a1
EditorWartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach, Fachhochschule , Ingo Sandner
TitleUnsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen. Ausstellungskatalog und Tagungsband Katalogteil 1; 2: Werkstatt und Schüler Cranachs; 3: Süddeutsche Meister; 4: Albrecht Dürer und sein Kreis; 5: Rheinische Meister
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages229-240
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1998 A 34-36
AuthorGünter Schuchardt
TitleDie Kunstsammlung der Wartburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1996 184-186 91
EditorWartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach, Jutta Krauß
TitleAller Knecht und Christi Untertan. Der Mensch Luther und sein Umfeld. Katalog der Ausstellungen zum 450. Todesjahr
Place of PublicationEisenach
Year of Publication1996
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994
EditorStiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
TitleGotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature
Klein 1994 A 196 Tab. 3
AuthorPeter Klein
TitleLucas Cranach und seine Werkstatt. Holzarten und dendrochronologische Analyse
Publicationin Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff, eds.,Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages194-200
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Marburg, Eisenach 1992 263 p. 49
EditingRenate Petzinger
TitleHessen und Thüringen. Von den Anfängen bis zur Reformation
Place of PublicationWiesbaden
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1990 102-103 p. 106-107
AuthorGünter Schuchardt
TitleDie Wartburg Eisenach
SeriesReiseziel Museum
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1990
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1983
EditorAltes Museum, Berlin
TitleKunst der Reformationzeit
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1983
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Nuremberg 1983
EditorGerhard Bott
TitleMartin Luther und die Reformation in Deutschland. Ausstellung zum 500. Geburtstag Martin Luthers
Place of PublicationFrankfurt a. M.
Year of Publication1983
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The image draws on prototypes by Lucas Cranach the Elder depicting the electors, generally in a small format and accompanied by verse. Since Johann Friedrich's accession to office in 1532 this form of triple portrait was commissioned in large numbers to underline the dynastic legitimation of his political claim to power with reference to his predecessors. This appeared more necessary than ever as the dispute with the emperor intensified. After the death of his father Charles V. refused to endow Johann Friedrich with the electoral dignity, nor would he acknowledge his Jülich marriage contract. [1] Johann Friedrich was counting on the effectiveness of the portraits to acheive good publicity for the legitimacy of his claims. At the same time the crown in Friedrich the Wise's hand may recall that initially after the death of Emperor Maximilian I. in 1519 the electorals were strong candidates in the imperial election. Furthermore the fact that the elector was general governor and one of the two imperial vicars and as such occupied a prominent position as administrator to the emperor may have been expressed by this attribute.

The prototype for the triptych in the Wartburg (1566) is probably the triple portrait in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg, created after 1532. The central panel depicting Friedrich the Wise, which was cropped at some stage in the past, probably also originally showed him holding the imperial crown in his right hand. [2]

The artist of the Eisenach Triptych, Johann Lange from Gotha (monogram 'ILG'), was employed since 1563 as court painter for Duke Johann Friedrich the Middle, the son of Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous. In 1566/67 he had unsuccessfully attempted to win back the electoral dignity lost by his father. Against this background Cranach's portrait of the last three electors acquired a current relevance for the dynasty, which may have lead to this copy by Lange.

In contrast to the prototype now in Nuremberg Johann Lange added a vase with a veronica behind the figure of Friedrich the Wise. In the 16th century it was believed that this plant warded off harm, offered solace and in addition it stood for humility (German Ehrenpreis (Ehr and Preis): honour and reward), which was also associated with Christ's passion.[3]

[1] Schade 1974, 54

[2] Koepplin 2007, 306 f.

[3] Schulze 2004, 113

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015, 262]

Connected Works

Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Johann the Steadfast [left wing]
  • Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Johann the Steadfast [left wing], 1566
  • DE_WSE_M0073b
  • Painting
  • Wartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach
Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous [right wing]
  • Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous [right wing], 1566
  • DE_WSE_M0073c
  • Painting
  • Wartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach
  • Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel], 1566

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

02. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- copied lines

- thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- probably transferred from a pre-existing design (traced lines?)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2006 - Technical Examination

Framing

original oak frame

[Wartburg-Stiftung revised 2013]

  • Bearbeiter/in Daniel Görres

21.01.1993Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

  • analysed by Peter Klein

Condition Reports

Date2013

verso cradled

[Wartburg-Stiftung revised 2013]

Conservation History

Date2005

conservation of the original frame by Christine Machate, Erfurt

Date1964 -

conservation by H. Weiser, Halle

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_WSE_M0073a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Triptych with the three Electors of Saxony: Friedrich the Wise [central panel]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_WSE_M0073a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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