Christ on the Cross

Christ on the Cross

Title

Christ on the Cross

[CDA 2011]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]

The panel depicts a scene on Calvary with many figures. Christ and the two thieves occupy an area covered by dark clouds in the upper third of the panel. The crosses of the thieves project diagonally into the pictorial space. A group with the three Marys and St John can

The panel depicts a scene on Calvary with many figures. Christ and the two thieves occupy an area covered by dark clouds in the upper third of the panel. The crosses of the thieves project diagonally into the pictorial space. A group with the three Marys and St John can be seen to the left of Christ and on the right-hand side the henchmen gamble for the robe of the crucified. Underneath the cross we see a group of men on horseback and soldiers, among them the converted centurion, who looks up at Christ and points upwards. The central third of the painting shows a forest of lances and pikes against the backdrop of the sky.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]
[Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, 45, No. 71]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1983, 364f., Fig. 326, No. E 58][1]
[Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972, 173, 79, No. 68a][1]
[Hosäus 1883, 47, No. 1503][1]
[Parthey 1864, Bd. I, 683][1]

[1] [Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Chemniz 2005, 348, 349][2]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1978, 144, No. 377C][1]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932, 85, No. 302][1]
[Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. II, 152f., No. 455][1]

[1] [Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]
[2] [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau, 2011]

Production dates
about 1537 - 1538
after 1537

Production dates

about 1537 - 1538

[Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]

after 1537

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 149] [Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972, 173, 79, No. 68a]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 121.5 x 83.8 x 1.3 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 121.5 x 83.8 x 1.3 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 136 x 99.3 x 7.1 cm (+ 1.1cm)

  • [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom left of the centre in front of the kneeling figure: winged serpent

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom left of the centre in front of the kneeling figure: winged serpent

  • [CDA 2011]

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: - in the top left quarter of the cradle:
paper label 'Gemäldegalerie Dessau / Werkstatt-Tagebuch …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: - in the top left quarter of the cradle:

  • paper label 'Gemäldegalerie Dessau / Werkstatt-Tagebuch Nr. [stamp-printed] 491 [handwritten with a feather in brown-black]'

    • top in the centre:

  • paper label with a handwritten inscription in blue ink 'Cranach, Lukas, 16 kreuzigung Christi / Jst 1503 Staat 6 GV394'

  • Reverse of the frame:

    • top left:

  • paper label 'Gemäldegalerie Dessau / Werkstatt-Tagebuch Nr. [stamp-printed]

  • 491 [handwritten with a feather in brown-black]

    • bottom right:

  • paper label 'Staatliche Galerie Dessau / Gesamtverzeichnis / Nr. [printed] 394 [handwritten in pencil]

    • beside this:

  • paper label, not legible, ending with the no. '2053 (?)'

  • [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

Owner
Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau
Repository
Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau
Location
Dessau
CDA ID
DE_AGGD_16
FR (1978) Nr.
FR377C
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_16/

Provenance

  • old ducal Inv. No. 1503, Joachim-Ernst-Stiftung
    [Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, revised 2011]

  • origin unknown

  • since 1851 recorded in the Gotisches Haus in Wörlitz (Ministry Cabinet)

[Klingen, Cat. Dessau 1996, 32]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Wörlitz 2015 120-121
EditorKulturstiftung Dessau Wörlitz
EditingWolfgang Savelsberg
TitleCranach im Gotischen Haus in Wörlitz, [Wörlitz, Gotisches Haus, 15 May - 4 Oct. 2015]
SeriesKataloge und Schriften der Kulturstiftung Dessau Wörlitz
Volume35
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 348, 349 Fig. 157
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Cat. Dessau 1996 32, 34 No. 16 Plate 8
AuthorStephan Klingen
TitleDie deutschen Gemälde des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts, Kritischer Bestandskatalog
Volume1
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1996
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1983 364f. No. E 58 Fig. 326
EditorAltes Museum, Berlin
TitleKunst der Reformationzeit
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1983
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 146 No. 377C
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972 B 79, 173 No. 68a
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 45 No. 71
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Photoverzeichnis Marburg 1937 No. 77469
Authorn. a.
TitlePhotoverzeichnis VII. Neuaufnahmen des Kunstgeschichtlichen Seminars in Marburg aus den Anhaltischen Sammlungen
JournalJahrbuch des Deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft
IssueBd. 4
Year of Publication1937
PagesI-VIII
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 85 302
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
Cat. Dessau 1929 17 No. 16
AuthorLudwig Grote
TitleFührer durch die Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie
Place of PublicationDessau
Year of Publication1929
Show Literature
Cat. Dessau 1927 15 No. 16
AuthorLudwig Grote
TitleFührer durch die Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie
Place of PublicationDessau
Year of Publication1927
Show Literature
Hartmann 1913 86 No. 1503
AuthorAdolph Hartmann
TitleDer Wörlitzer Park und seine Kunstschätze
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1913
Show Literature
Hosäus 1883 47 No. 1503
AuthorWilhelm Hosäus
TitleWorlitz. Ein Handbuch für die Besucher des Wörlitzer Gartens und der Wörlitzer Kunstsammlungen
Place of PublicationDessau
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Parthey 1863-1864 683 (Bd. 1)
AuthorGustav Parthey
TitleDeutscher Bildersaal. Verzeichnis der in Deutschland vorhandenen Oelbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1864
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 152-153 455
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature
  • Christ on the Cross, about 1537 - 1538

Images

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

Technical studies

04. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry medium (dark chalk ?) and fine brush?

Type/Ductus:

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and generally describe the essential features within forms; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations in the painted version to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger ?

[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>, 'Christ on the Cross', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_16/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ on the Cross', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_AGGD_16/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.