The ill-matched Couple

The ill-matched Couple

Title

The ill-matched Couple

[cda 2021]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Belvedere Vienna, revised 2021]

The subject, the pairing of a foolish old man and a youthful beauty was very popular in sixteenth-century art, affording as it did the opportunity to present a lascivious image under the guise of a morality lesson. In this version of the subject the old man embraces the woman, while

The subject, the pairing of a foolish old man and a youthful beauty was very popular in sixteenth-century art, affording as it did the opportunity to present a lascivious image under the guise of a morality lesson. In this version of the subject the old man embraces the woman, while attempting to peck her on the cheek. However, she looks out at the viewer with a knowing glance and - unnoticed by him – reaches into his purse.

[cda 2021]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Belvedere Vienna, revised 2021]

Production date
about 1530

Production date

about 1530

[Belvedere Wien, revised 2021]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 20.2 × 14.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 20.2 × 14.5 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 42 × 36 cm

  • [Belvedere Vienna, revised 2021]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the left edge: serpent with elevated wings

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the left edge: serpent with elevated wings

Owner
Schloss Belvedere, Vienna
Repository
Schloss Belvedere, Vienna
Location
Vienna
CDA ID
AT_BW_SLM700
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_BW_SLM700/

Provenance

  • from the Maurer legacy
    [Belvedere Vienna , revised 2021]

Research History / Discussion

Two further similar versions are known to exist, both in the National Gallery, Prague. The first is a slightly smaller format attributed to Cranach and workshop [CZ_NGP_O455], showing the old man without a beard, while the other is a later copy of slightly larger dimensions [CZ_NGP_DO4324].

[cda 2021]

  • The ill-matched Couple, about 1530

Images

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The ill-matched Couple', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_BW_SLM700/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The ill-matched Couple', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/AT_BW_SLM700/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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