Portrait of Martin Luther

Portrait of Martin Luther

Title

Portrait of Martin Luther

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15] [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 46, No. 23]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Klein, Report 1994]
[Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 46, No. 23]

A portrait of Luther as a half-length figure in three-quarter profile facing right against a blue background. He wears a black cloak and a beret of the same colour. Brown curls emerge from beneath this. The Reformer is shown with a five o'clock shadow, and in his hands he hold

A portrait of Luther as a half-length figure in three-quarter profile facing right against a blue background. He wears a black cloak and a beret of the same colour. Brown curls emerge from beneath this. The Reformer is shown with a five o'clock shadow, and in his hands he hold a closed book.

[Görres, cda 2012]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15] [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 46, No. 23]

Production dates
1533
about 1536

Production dates

1533

[dated]

about 1536

[According to the dendrochronological examination the painting was produced no earlier than 1536; Klein 1994, S. 200].

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 21 x 14.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 21 x 14.5 cm

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]

  • [Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 46, No. 23]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia above the sitter's left shoulder: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1533'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia above the sitter's left shoulder: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1533'

  • [Görres, cda 2012]

Owner
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Repository
Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Braunschweig
Location
Braunschweig
CDA ID
DE_HAUMB_GG23
FR (1978) Nr.
FR314C
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG23/

Provenance

  • entered the collection before 1737

[Cat. Braunschweig 1976, 15]
[Cat. Braunschweig 1969, 46, No. 23]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Horký 2022 12 Fig. 4
AuthorMila Horký
EditorThomas Richter, Silke Gatenbröcker
TitleDas Bildnis eines Ritters (1535) von Lucas Cranach: eine Spurensuche in Kursachsen
Publicationin Thomas Richter, Silke Gatenbröcker, eds.: Beiträge zur Kunst des 16. bis 19. Jahrhunderts
Volume7
JournalNiederdeutsche Beiträge zur Kunstgeschichte
Year of Publication2022
Pages8-31
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 479 Fn. 18 under No. 42
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
Klein 1994 A 200 Tab. 10
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
Klein 1994 B 211, 213
AuthorPeter Klein
TitleHolzartenbestimmung und dendrochronologische Analyse an Gemäldetafeln von Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und seiner Werkstatt
PublicationAllmuth Schuttwolf, ed., Gotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Gotha
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Pages210-219
Jacobi 1986 853
AuthorJ. Jacobi
TitleAus dem Besitz der Braunschweiger Herzöge
JournalWeltkunst: Zeitschrift für Kunst und Antiquitäten
Issue6
Year of Publication1986
Pages852-855
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1978 314C
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleThe Paintings of Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationNew York
Year of Publication1978
Cat. Braunschweig 1976 15 23
AuthorSabine Jacob, Rüdiger Klessmann
TitleVerzeichnis der Gemälde vor 1800. Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1976
Cat. Braunschweig 1969 46 23
Authorn. a.
TitleHerzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig. Verzeichnis der Gemälde
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1969
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 252G
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
Cat. Braunschweig 1900 14
AuthorHerman Riegel
TitleHerzogliches Museum Braunschweig. Beschreibendes und kritisches Verzeichnis der Gemälde-Sammlung
Place of PublicationBraunschweig
Year of Publication1900
Link https://leopard.tu-braunschweig.de/receive/dbbs_mods_00023360
  • Portrait of Martin Luther, 1533

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

03. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

18.02.1994Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: beech wood

Youngest annual ring: 1535

  • analysed by Peter Klein

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG23/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HAUMB_GG23/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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