Charity

Charity

Title

Charity

[CDA 2011]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Klein, Report 1994]
[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

The panel depicts charity as a seated female figure breast-feeding one of her infants. She is wrapped in a transparent veil. A further two naked children stand beside her. One of them holds an apple in his hand. The scene is enacted beneath an apple tree. An expansive landscape is

The panel depicts charity as a seated female figure breast-feeding one of her infants. She is wrapped in a transparent veil. A further two naked children stand beside her. One of them holds an apple in his hand. The scene is enacted beneath an apple tree. An expansive landscape is shown behind the hedge.

[Herrschaft, cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015, 180]
according to [Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70, 72] the attribution to L. Cranach the Younger is disputed

Production date
after 1537

Production date

after 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015, 180] [Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 120.5 x 82.4 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 120.5 x 82.4 cm

  • [Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the stone: winged serpent with dropped wings

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the stone: winged serpent with dropped wings

  • [CDA 2010]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • on the stone:
    'CHARITAS'

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on the stone:

  • 'CHARITAS'

Owner
Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
Repository
Klassik Stiftung Weimar, Museums
Location
Weimar
CDA ID
DE_KSW_G20
FR (1978) Nr.
FR406
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G20/

Provenance

The painting is listed in the inventory of the 'Neues Lusthaus' from 1572 (StaW: Reg. Aa 1240 -1261, fol. 121) and from 1602/03 (StaW:. A 551a, fol. 216v); it was hung in front of the salon on the ground floor. In 1620 there was a painting depicting Charity ('eine Taffel darauff die Charitas'), probably the same, in the chamber (Hauskammer) next to the 'Blaue Stube' on the second floor (StaW: B 8876m, fol. 334).

  • 1860 transferred to the museum by Archduke Carl Alexander (Vermehrungsbuch p. 169)

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Exhibitions

Erfurt 1903, No. 158, Fig.
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 60
Basel 1974, 531 under No. 380

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015 180, 181 123 Fig. 123
EditorWolfgang Holler, Karin Kolb
TitleCranach in Weimar, [Weimar, Schiller-Museum, 3 April - 14 June 2015]
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 136, Fn. 55
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
TitleVeränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages128-141
Show Literature
Hinz 1994 B 175 Fig. A117
AuthorBerthold Hinz
TitleSinnwidrig zusammengestellte Fabrikate? Zur Varianten-Praxis der Cranach-Werkstatt
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, Regensburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages174-179
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 70-72 No. 24
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 152 No. 406 Fig. 406
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Schade 1974 89 Plate 196
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Ullmann 1974 25 Fig. 14
AuthorErnst Ullmann
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere. Maler und Werk
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972 B No. 67 Fig. p. 19
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Lang 1972 872
AuthorLothar Lang
TitleDer "sehr schnelle Maler"
JournalDie Weltbühne
IssueNr. 28, 11.7.1972
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 46 Fig.
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Rudloff-Hille 1953 B 32 Fig. 24
AuthorGertrude Rudloff-Hille
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. Eine Einführung in sein Leben und sein Werk.
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Posse 1943 Pl. 114
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
IssueSecond edition
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
Lilienfein 1942 77f. Fig. 110
AuthorHeinrich Lilienfein
TitleLukas Cranach und seine Zeit
Place of PublicationBielefeld
Year of Publication1942
Show Literature
Posse 1942 Pl. 114
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1942
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 40 109 Pl. 87
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 326
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. Weimar 1913 No. 155
EditorWillibald Hermens
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1913
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1910 No. 151
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
IssueSixth edition
Year of Publication1910
Show Literature
Gabelentz-Linsingen 1910 35 Plate
AuthorHans von der Gabelentz-Linsingen
TitleFührer durch das Großherzogliche Museum in Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1910
Show Literature
Michaelson 1902 112
AuthorHedwig Michaelson
TitleLukas Cranach der Ältere. Untersuchung über die stilistische Entwicklung seiner Kunst
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1902
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1894 34 No. 21
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1894
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1884 27 No. 18
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1884
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1874 39 No. 71
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1874
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1871 196-197 85
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Dritter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1871
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1871bd3
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1869 35 No. 52
Authorn. a.
TitleKatalog des Groszherzoglichen Museums zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1869
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1867 No. 59
AuthorSixt Thon
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKatalog der Großherzoglichen Kunstsammlung im Palais zu Weimar
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1867
Show Literature
  • Charity, after 1537

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

06.10.2014Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • x_radiograph

Equipment: ERESCO 42 MF 4 from the company GE.

Scanner: CRxFlex.

Parameters: 60 KV, 6mA, 20 seconds

Distance from object: 3m

[HfBK Dresden, Prof. I. Mohrmann, K. Risse, 06.10.2014]

  • created by I. Mohrmann
  • created by HfBK Dresden
  • created by K. Risse

04. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, dark grey medium (brush), presumably in combination with dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- thin lines and soft, blended contours

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours; some representation of volume

Deviations:

- no apparent alterations during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

30.09.1994Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

The most recent annual ring on the second plank is from 1530, it was not possible to date the third plank

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Examined in 1990

  • analysed by Peter Klein

1988Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared photography

Support

- three planks vertically aligned (1 broad, 2 narrow)

- the edge of the painted surface has been preserved at the top and bottom of the panel, here the old beveled edge is still in tact

Underdrawing

- economic underdrawing of the contours

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Infrared photograph: J Fritz, IfD Berlin 1972

1972Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared photography

Underdrawing

  • photographed by J. Fritz
  • photographed by Institut für Denkmalpflege, Berlin

1953Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • photographed by Institut für Denkmalpflege, Halle

Condition Reports

Date1988

  • the panel has been thinned on the reverse (8-9 mm) and reinforced with an oak wood cradle (1868).

  • the central join has been reinforced with a new batten (1958)

  • the panel has been trimmed slightly on the left and the right

  • old woodworm damage, particularly along the join, in the lower part of the join on the right as well as the bottom left (viewed from the reverse)

  • new varnish (1953)

  • numerous large, old and new retouches: top left corner and top edge, right, in Charity's face there is a stripe running from the curls of her hair across the cheek to the left shoulder (join), the neck and shoulder of Charity on the right, in the lower part of the right arm and the leg of the child drinking as well as the lower part of Charity's thigh up to her knee, below her left breast and beneath the hands of the child in the centre in the area of the cheeks and neck and between the two children who are standing from eye level to the thigh; further retouching in the right calf and foot of Charity, on the partridge and the bottom edge of the panel in the centre.

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Conservation History

Date1953

No information with a questionmark

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Date1868

No information

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 70]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Charity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G20/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Charity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSW_G20/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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