The Lamentation of Christ

The Lamentation of Christ

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp)

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]

Pine wood (Pinus sp.)

[Klein, Report 2013]
(The lime wood is bonded with pine) [cda 2016]

Joseph of Arimathia stands at Christ's head and Nicodemus at his feet. John supports the body, Mary Magdalene grabs his arm and the Virgin wrings her hands. Behind this central group stand Mary Cleophae, Mary Salome and a third unknown woman. The background is blue. On the left and right

Joseph of Arimathia stands at Christ's head and Nicodemus at his feet. John supports the body, Mary Magdalene grabs his arm and the Virgin wrings her hands. Behind this central group stand Mary Cleophae, Mary Salome and a third unknown woman. The background is blue. On the left and right edge of the panel half medaillons each containing a coat-of-arms have been overpainted.

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]
[Cat. Nuremberg 1909][1]
[Schuchardt 1871, 175][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 160]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. 106 E-F][1]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932, No. 93][1]
[Schuchardt 1851 A, 105][1]
[Waagen 1843, 197][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 160]

Production dates
about 1538
about 1518

Production dates

about 1538

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]

about 1518

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932, No. 93] [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. 106 E-F]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 27.1 x 53 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 27.1 x 53 cm

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: - bottom right:
Paper label: Text, 17th century handwriting (see CDA.DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm211; here abridged)
in pencil …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: - bottom right:

  • Paper label: Text, 17th century handwriting (see CDA.DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm211; here abridged)

  • in pencil '273' and '256'

  • in white paint '210'

    • bottom left:

  • Paper label: 'Slg. König Ludwig I. von Bayern, 1828' [Coat of arms, crossed out with a red pencil]

  • Paper label: 'Wittelsbacher / Ausgleichfonds [printed], WAF H.G. 175/(1936)' [in black ink] /396 [in black ink crossed out in blue ink]

    • centre:

  • Paper label: in black ink '8 Zimmer'

    • top right:

  • in white paint 'Gm 210'

  • Reverse of the frame:

    • bottom centre:

  • in pencil 'unten'

    • left member:

  • stenciled in white paint 'GM'

Owner
Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfond/Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Location
Nuremberg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm210
FR (1978) Nr.
FR106E
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm210/

Provenance

On permanent loan from the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds
BStGS, Inv. Nr. WAF 175

  • according to a paper label on the reverse of the panel it was in the collegial church, Hall/Tirol
  • in the collection of Count Rechberg
  • 1815 acquired for the collection of the Duke of Oettingen-Wallerstein, registry of deeds 1817-18, § CCXXVII
  • 1828 acquired for the collection of King Ludwig I. of Bavaria, I.W. 396
  • from 1829 displayed in Nuremberg, Moritz Chapel
  • 1882 GNM

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 157]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 157-160
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 91 No. 106 E-F
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1936/1937 41-42
AuthorEberhard Lutze, Eberhard Wiegand
TitleKataloge des Germanischen Nationalmuseums zu Nürnberg. Die Gemälde des 13.-16. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 No. 93 (mentioned)
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. Nuremberg 1909 210
AuthorHeinz Braune
TitleKatalog der Gemälde-Sammlung des Germanischen Nationalmuseums in Nürnberg
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1909
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1893 Nos. 256, 257
AuthorAugust von Essenwein, Adolf Bayersdorfer, Franz von Reber
TitleKatalog der im germanischen Museum befindlichen Gemälde
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1893
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1885 Nos. 235, 234
AuthorAugust von Essenwein, Adolf Bayersdorfer, Franz von Reber
TitleKatalog der im germanischen Museum befindlichen Gemälde
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1885
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1882 Nos. 230, 229
AuthorAugust von Essenwein, Adolf Bayersdorfer, Franz von Reber
TitleKatalog der im germanischen Museum befindlichen Gemälde
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1882
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1878-1880 Nos. 151, 150
AuthorAugust von Reber
TitleKatalog der Königliche Gemälde. Galerie in der St Moritz Kapelle
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1880
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1871 175 69
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
Parthey 1863-1864 683 (Bd. 1) Nos. 94, 95
AuthorGustav Parthey
TitleDeutscher Bildersaal. Verzeichnis der in Deutschland vorhandenen Oelbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1864
Show Literature
Lotz 1863 339
AuthorWilhelm Lotz
TitleKunst-Topographie Deutschlands. Ein Haus- und Reise-Handbuch für Künstler, Gelehrte und Freunde unserer alten Kunst
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationKassel
Year of Publication1863
Show Literature
Heller 1854 87
AuthorJoseph Heller
TitleLucas Cranach's Leben und Werke
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1854
Link http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015062799757
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 105
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
Cat. Nuremberg 1828-1846 Nos. 131, 129
Authorn. a.
TitleDer Königliche Bildersaal aus der Alt- Ober- und Niederdeutschen Schule in der Moritzkapelle zu Nürnberg 1829-1846
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1846
Show Literature
Waagen 1843 197
AuthorGustav Friedrich Waagen
TitleKunstwerke und Künstler im Erzgebirge und in Franken
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1843
Show Literature
Schorn 1829 419
AuthorLudwig Schorn
TitleDer königliche Bildersaal in der St. Moritzkapelle zu Nürnberg
JournalKunstblatt
IssueJg. 10
Year of Publication1829
Pages321-324, 401-404, 407-408, 417-4
Show Literature
Cat. Coll. Oettingen-Wallerstein 1826 Nos. 268, 269
Authorn. a.
TitleCatalogue de la Galerie de Wallerstein
Place of PublicationWallerstein
Year of Publication1826
Show Literature
Cat. Coll. Oettingen-Wallerstein 1819 133-134 Nos. 11, 12
Authorn. a.
TitleVerzeichniß der altdeutschen Gemaelde der Fürstlich Oettingen Wallersteinischen Bilder Gallerie in Wallerstein
Place of PublicationHarburg
Year of Publication1819
Show Literature

Connected Works

The Entombment of Christ
  • The Entombment of Christ, about 1538
  • DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm211
  • Painting
  • Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfond/Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
  • The Lamentation of Christ, about 1538

Images

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

Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: pine wood (Pinus sp.)

  • analysed by Peter Klein

09. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid black pigmented medium, quill

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing

- frequently short and crescent-shaped lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and define the essential details; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alteration in details made during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- the use of a quill is more typical in underdrawings from about 1518 (Friedländer and Rosenberg) rather than about 1538 (Löcher)

- half of a coat-of-arms is visible on the left and on the right

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology
  • Infrared reflectography
  • Stereomicroscopy
  • reverse
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Support

- limewood (Tilia sp)

- the panel consists of two horizontal planks joined and glued

- the knots in the wood were left untreated

- there is a rebate along the bottom edge

- the panel has been cropped at the sides

Ground and Imprimatura

- there are incised lines along the top and the bottom of the panel

Underdrawing

- executed with a brush

- the contours and main details within the shapes are executed with short curved lines and are visible to the naked eye

- there are drips in the faces and on the figure of Christ, which can be interpreted as drops of blood in the latter and tears in the former

Paint Layers and Gilding

- a semi-circle containing a coat of arms in front of the pillar of an arch is visible beneath the paint layers at the side of the panel in raking light. On both panels the shield on the right and left are identical (see FR106F). The infrared reflectograph of the coat-of-arms on the left shows an eagle and above a crown. The coat of arms on the right is less clear. There could be a crown above a shield.

- gilding and red, blue and black paint are visible in the losses. The red paint is optically the same in appearance as that of the garments.

- the original paint displays drying cracks except for the areas of green paint, which have become brown

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 158]

Condition Reports

Date1997

Support:

  • the sides of the panel have been trimmed

Reverse:

  • two coats of green water soluble paint were applied to the reverse of the panel while it was still in its frame

  • water spots

Painted surface:

  • the coat-of-arms, the architecture and the dark blue sky were painted over at a very early stage

  • the three lances have been extended and the floor has been partially glazed

  • fingerprints along the bottom edge of the painting probably date from this period

  • red retouching on the Mary Magdalene's ear and her cheek

  • St Nicodemus's brown arm and the brown hair of all the figures are abraded

  • the old varnish on the red garments has blanched

  • small paint losses

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 158]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Lamentation of Christ', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm210/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Lamentation of Christ', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm210/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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