Portrait of the Chancellor Gregor Brück

Portrait of the Chancellor Gregor Brück

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

From 1519 Gregor Brück was Chancellor to the electors of Saxony. Due to friction with the Kaiser his image represented political continuity from the beginning of Johann Friedrich's reign. The half-length portrait depicts him without hands facing to the right against a blue background. He has blue-green eyes, and

From 1519 Gregor Brück was Chancellor to the electors of Saxony. Due to friction with the Kaiser his image represented political continuity from the beginning of Johann Friedrich's reign. The half-length portrait depicts him without hands facing to the right against a blue background. He has blue-green eyes, and his beard and hair are blond. His beard is pointed. Brück wears a black overcoat with a wide collar, a red doublet and a white shirt, all richly embellished with golden boarders and pearl embroidery. The neckband is shaped like a snake turned back on itself. The long chain has a medal with a portrait of the Elector Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous of Saxony. There is a pipe on the smaller one.

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

[Display label, GNM 2010]

Attributions
Hans Cranach
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Hans Cranach

[Heydenreich, cda 2012]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Sandner 1998 B, 134] [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Production date
1533

Production date

1533

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimension of support: 42.6 x 38.4 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimension of support: 42.6 x 38.4 cm

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the left: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left and dated '15 33'. The first and last two figures are separated by the artist's signature.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the left: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left and dated '15 33'. The first and last two figures are separated by the artist's signature.

  • [CDA 2011]

Inscriptions and Labels

There is an inscription on the medal portraying the Elector Johann Friedrich: 'JOHANNES FRIDERICH CVRFVRST ZV SACHSSEN' Reverse of …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • There is an inscription on the medal portraying the Elector Johann Friedrich: 'JOHANNES FRIDERICH CVRFVRST ZV SACHSSEN'

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: in red pen 'G 797'; in blue pen '5739'; in pencil '36/40' and 'Inv. 847'

  • stamp: 'Eigentum der Bundesrepublik Deutschland'

  • paper label: 'Deutsches Museum Berlin' [printed Text] beneath 'Köln, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum/Sächsischer Herr' [type script]

  • Reverse of the frame:

  • in chalk '797'

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Owner
Federal Republic of Germany
Repository
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Location
Nuremberg
CDA ID
DE_BRD-GNMN_Gm1649
FR (1978) Nr.
FR341
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BRD-GNMN_Gm1649/

Provenance

  • 1897 in the collection of the Court Counsellor Gröbbels, Sigmaringen [1]
  • in the collection of the Hohenzoller Family, Sigmaringen [1]
  • 1928 Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum [1]
  • 12.1.1943 given from there through the art dealer Bornheim, Munich, as a gift from the City of Cologne to Hermann Göring (Göring Report, p. 126; MFA&A 239/219; Göring-Dok. 366) [2]
  • in other words given to the Galerie für alte Kunst, Munich as part of an exchange in 1943[1]
  • whereabouts after 1945: property of the Federal Republic of Germany [3]
  • 1966 given to the museum on permanent loan by the Federal Republic of Germany [1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]
[2]http://www.badv.bund.de/DE/OffeneVermoegensfragen/Provenienzrecherche/Provenienzen/Daten/5000_5999/5739.html
[3]Kunstsammlung Göring, DHM-datenbase:
http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/goering/dhm_goering.php?seite=5&fld_0=RMG00510

See also the entry in the Lost Art-database, Stiftung Deutsches Zentrum für Kulturgutverluste: Lost Art-ID 220351; http://www.lostart.de/DE/Fund/220351 (accessed 17 Dec. 2019).

For further discussion see 'Description/Interpretation'

Exhibitions

Frankfurt 1928, No. 80
Berlin 1937, No. 97, Plate 76
Nuremberg 1983, No. 433
Marburg, Lahn-Wartburg bei Eisenach 1992, 56
Düsseldorf 2017, No. 178

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Düsseldorf 2017 286 No. 178
EditorGunnar Heydenreich, Daniel Görres, Beat Wismer
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere. Meister - Marke - Moderne. [anlässlich der Ausstellung "Cranach. Meister - Marke - Moderne", Stiftung Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, 08. April 2017 - 30. Juli 2017]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2017
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2017 A 75
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich
TitleCranach? Fragen der Zuschreibung im Lichte kunsttechnologischer Untersuchungen
Publicationin Gunnar Heydenreich, Daniel Görres, Beat Wismer, eds., Lucas Cranach der Ältere. Meister - Marke - Moderne. [Exhib. Cat. Düsseldorf 2017]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2017
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/7316/7870/1704/Heydenreich_2017_Cranach_Fragen_der_Zuschreibung.pdf
Pages72-81
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2015 121, 122, 124, 125 Figs. 3, 5e
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich
TitleHans Cranach. Auf der Suche nach seinem verlorenen Oeuvre
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/5415/6232/3883/Heydenreich_2015_-_Hans_Cranach.pdf
Pages116 -127
Show Literature
Müller 2015 276
AuthorMatthias Müller
TitleWiederkehr der Mimesis. Die höfische Porträtmalerei Lucas Cranachs des Jüngeren nach 1550 als paradigmatische Neuausrichtung des 'Cranach-Stils'
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages266-279
Show Literature
Cat.Hess, Hirschfelder, Bär 2010 106-107 Fig. 476
AuthorFrank Bär
EditorDaniel Hess, Dagmar Hirschfelder, Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
TitleRenaissance. Barock. Aufklärung. Kunst und Kultur vom 16. bis zum 18. Jahrhundert
SeriesDie Schausammlungen des Germanischen Nationalmuseums
Volume3
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Müller 2010 66
AuthorMatthias Müller
Title"Menschen so zu malen, daß sie erkannt werden und zu leben scheinen" Naturnachahmung als Problem in Lucas Cranachs höfischer Porträtmalerei
Publicationin Matthias Müller, ed., Apelles am Fürstenhof. Facetten der Hofkunst um 1500 im Alten Reich Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2010
Pages57-73
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2007 A 102-110
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich
TitleLucas Cranach the Elder
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
Year of Publication2007
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/6116/2097/3099/Heydenreich_2007_Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder.pdf
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 60 Pl. 20
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
Bünsche 1998 A 63
AuthorBernd Bünsche
TitleDie Verwendung von Lochpausen bei der Anfertigung der Fürstenportraits durch Lucas Cranach den Älteren
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, ed., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages61-64
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998 134 No. 15.3 Figs. 15.3, 15.3a
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
Sandner 1998 A 57
AuthorIngo Sandner
TitleZeichengeräte um 1500
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, eds., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages51-60
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 150-151
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Stievermann 1994 70 Fig. A36
AuthorDieter Stievermann
TitleLucas Cranach und der Kursächsische Hof
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
Pages66-77
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Marburg, Eisenach 1992 56
EditingRenate Petzinger
TitleHessen und Thüringen. Von den Anfängen bis zur Reformation
Place of PublicationWiesbaden
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Guy Marcia 1987 17 Fig. 64
AuthorViorica Guy Marcia
TitleCranach
Place of PublicationBucarest
Year of Publication1987
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Nuremberg 1983 No. 433
EditorGerhard Bott
TitleMartin Luther und die Reformation in Deutschland. Ausstellung zum 500. Geburtstag Martin Luthers [Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, 25.06 – 25.09.1983]
Place of PublicationFrankfurt a. M.
Year of Publication1983
Show Literature
Nickel 1982 129 Fig. 14
AuthorHelmut Nickel
TitleThe Judgement of Paris by Lucas Cranach the Elder: Nature, Allegory, and Alchemy
JournalMetropolitan Museum Journal
Issue16
Year of Publication1982
Pages117-129
Show Literature
Börner 1981 16 Fig. p. 15
AuthorLore Börner
TitleDeutsche Medaillenkleinode des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationWürzburg
Year of Publication1981
Show Literature
Fabian 1981 212-216
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleGregor Brück (Bruck, gen. Pontanus)
Publicationin Gerhard Krause, Gerhard Müller, eds., Theologische Realenzyklopädie, Berlin 1981
Volume7
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1981
Pages212-216
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 138 No. 341 Fig. 341
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Auct. Cat. Munich 1975 No. 1152
EditorAuktionshaus Neumeister, Munich
TitleAuktionshaus Neumeister, München, 22-23 Okt. 1975
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1975
Show Literature
Schade 1974 55 Plate 133
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Fabian 1964 266-280
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleCranach-Bildnisse des Reformationskanzlers Dr. Gregor Brück
JournalTheologische Zeitschrift
IssueJg. 20
Year of Publication1964
Pages266-280
Show Literature
Fabian 1957 16 Fig. 1
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleDr. Gregor Brück 1557-1957. Lebensbild und Schriftwechselverzeichnis des Reformationskanzlers. I.U.D. Gregor Heinze-Brück zu seinem 400. Todestage
SeriesSchriften zur Kirchen- und Rechtsgeschichte
Volume2
Place of PublicationTübingen
Year of Publication1957
Show Literature
Fabian 1955 654
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleBrück
Publicationin Historischen Kommission bei der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek, ed., Allgemeine deutsche Biographie - Neue deutsche Biographie
Volume2
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1955
Pages652-654
Show Literature
Fabian 1952/1953 43
AuthorFabian
TitleNeue Goethe-Ahnenbildnisse
JournalFamilie und Volk
Year of Publication1953
Pages41-48
Show Literature
Fabian 1952 A
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleVerzeichnis vom Briefwechsel des Reformationskanzlers Dr. G. Brück (1521-1553)
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
Year of Publication1952
Show Literature
Fabian 1951
AuthorEkkehardt Fabian
TitleDer Reformationskanzler Dr. G. Bruck als der grosse 'Unbekannte' auf dem wiederentdeckten 'Wittenberger Reformatorenbild' von Lucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
Year of Publication1951
Show Literature
Posse 1943 64 No. 104
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
IssueSecond edition
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
Lilienfein 1942 69-70 Fig. 94
AuthorHeinrich Lilienfein
TitleLukas Cranach und seine Zeit
Place of PublicationBielefeld
Year of Publication1942
Show Literature
Posse 1942 64 No. 104
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1942
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 37 097 Pl. 76
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Buchner 1933/1934 311
AuthorErnst Buchner
TitleErwerbungen für die Galerie des Wallraf-Richartz-Museum
JournalWallraf-Richartz-Jahrbuch: Jahrbuch für Kunstgeschichte
IssueNF 2/3
Year of Publication1934
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 275
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
Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 1928 A 80
EditorStädelsches Kunstinstitut
TitleSammlung Sigmaringen. Kurzes Verzeichnis der im Städelschen Kunstinstitut ausgestellten Sigmaringer Sammlungen [Frankfurt-am-Main, Städelschen Kunstinstitut]
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
Year of Publication1928
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The artist's insignia of the winged serpent differs from the standard formula found on paintings by Lucas Cranach and his workshop and is characterized by conspicuous fan-like wings, the dot above the 'I' and a further black dot after '33'

Further investigation of the painting [DE_BRD-GNMN_Gm1649_FR341_2010-09_Detail-011.tif] revealed remains of two letters in black paint either side of the winged serpent, which had been thinned and covered with blue paint at a later stage.

These letters could be interpreted as an 'H' and a 'C' and support a possible attribution to Hans Cranach. Two preserved paintings, which have been attributed to Hans Cranach (Madrid, Collection Thyssen-Bornemisza) are signed with the initials 'H C' and also exhibit black dots in association with the initials or the date. Furthermore the portraits in Madrid and the portait of the mayor Brück are distinguished by shared stylistic similarities.

In addition the following paintings also exhibit the conspicuous fan-like wings and the dots beside or as part of the dating, which may indicate Hans Cranach's authorship:

DE_SMG_SG10_FR-none

DE_NLMH_L115_FR-none

DE_UEK-smbGG_Dep27_FR315C et al.

[Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • Portrait of the Chancellor Gregor Brück, 1533

Images

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Technical studies

10. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry medium, (dark chalk/metalpoint?)

Type/Ductus:

- traced linear underdrawing

- delicate fine lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and generally describing the essential details of the face; no representation of volume

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- possibly transferred (traced ?) from a pre-existing design

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • Stereomicroscopy

Support

- 4 boards, glued horizontally

- widths from the top, left: 4.2, 14.5, 12.3, 11.5 cm right: 4.0, 15.0, 12.2, 11.4 cm

- thinned to a thickness of 0.4-0.7 cm

- the panel has been trimmed at the bottom and right

Reverse:

- the rebate on the right is original

Ground and Imprimatura

- there is an incised line along the edge of the ground and the painted surface at the top of the panel. The ground extends to the edge on the left side, whereas there is an incised line along the edge of the painted surface

- light red imprimatura, vermillion mixed with white pigments. In some areas the proportion of white pigment is so great that the red is no longer visible eg. in the flesh paint

Underdrawing

- pen

- the contours and main lines within the forms are indicated

- the drawing is executed employing dots in the lighter areas like the eyelids

- the beret is larger

Paint Layers and Gilding

-Slight alterations in the beret and the collar

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Condition Reports

Date1997

Support:

  • the bottom right corner has been replaced with lime wood

  • extensive old wood worm damage

  • the joins have been reglued, damaged wood along the joins was reconstructed with fill material

  • there are numerous splits in the two lower planks caused by the wood worm damage

  • the planks are slightly warped

  • the panel has been trimmed along the bottom and the right

Reverse:

  • the top edge has a rebate 1.5 cm high and 0.2 cm thick and it has been reinforced with pine wood battons

  • the splits at the bottom of the panel have been glued, while those in the centre have been reinforced with wooden blocks

Painted surface:

  • there are old fills and reconstructed areas along the bottom edge

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Conservation History

Date1967

  • varnish and overpaint removed

  • joins reglued, filled and retouched

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 150]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of the Chancellor Gregor Brück', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BRD-GNMN_Gm1649/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of the Chancellor Gregor Brück', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BRD-GNMN_Gm1649/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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