The Beheading of St Catherine

The Beheading of St Catherine

Title

The Beheading of St Catherine

[CDA 2010]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

The saint kneels with her hands bound awaiting her execution with the sword. The executioner grabs her hair. On the left there are dignitaries and officers on horseback and on the right footsoldiers. In the background lightning and hail set the wheel alight upon which St Catherine is to be

The saint kneels with her hands bound awaiting her execution with the sword. The executioner grabs her hair. On the left there are dignitaries and officers on horseback and on the right footsoldiers. In the background lightning and hail set the wheel alight upon which St Catherine is to be martyred and thus incapacitates her pursuers.

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 74A][1]
[Janitschek 1890, 493][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 131]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Braune, Cat. Nuremberg 1909, No. 212][1]
[Reber, Bayersdorfer, Cat. Nuremberg 1882-1885][1]

[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 131]

Production date
after 1515

Production date

after 1515

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 76.4 x 58.3 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 76.4 x 58.3 cm

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: - bottom left:
paper label: 'BStGS Inv. 1822' [printed] 'Nr. 1333' [in black …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: - bottom left:

  • paper label: 'BStGS Inv. 1822' [printed] 'Nr. 1333' [in black ink, crossed out with black paint]

  • paper label: 'Königl. Bayer./ Staats. Gemälde-Sammlung/ Wappen/ neues Inventar Nr. 1855 [printed] Nr. 1464 [in black ink]'

  • paper label: 'Lucas Cranach d. Ä. Enthauptung/der hl. Katharina' [in black ink], 'Königlich Bayerische/ Staats.-Gemälde-Sammlung / Inv. V. 1855 Nr.' [printed] /' Nr. 1464' [in black ink]/, Neues Inventar Nr.: '1905[printed], Nr. 1150' [in black ink]

  • small label attached over it with the No. '180' [Typed]

  • in white paint 'G. 212'

  • Reverse of the frame:

    • bottom left:

  • in white paint 'G.M [with a stencil] 6/52'

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Owner
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Location
Nuremberg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm212
FR (1978) Nr.
FR074A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm212/

Provenance

On loan from the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Inv. No. 1464

  • from the Galerie Zweibrücken, Inv. No. 696 red
    BStGS Inv. 1822, No. 1333
  • 1905, No. 1150
  • Schleissheim Palace, Picture Gallery
  • 1877 lent to the GNM

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Heydenreich 2017 A 77
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
Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005 54, 55 (English version 25) under no. 5 Fig. p. 55
EditorObrazárna Pražského hradu, Kaliopi Chamonikola
TitlePod znamením okrídleného hada. Lucas Cranach a ceské zeme. Under the winged Serpent. Lucas Cranach and the Czech Land
Place of PublicationPrague
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 130-132
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 84 No. 74A
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Stange 1953 3
AuthorAlfred Stange
TitleCranachs Enthauptung der Hl. Katharina
JournalWeltkunst: Zeitschrift für Kunst und Antiquitäten
IssueJg. 23, No. 5
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1936/1937 No. 212 Fig. 378
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. 66 (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 212
AuthorHeinz Braune
TitleKatalog der Gemälde-Sammlung des Germanischen Nationalmuseums in Nürnberg
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1909
Show Literature
Janitschek 1890 493
AuthorHubert Janitschek
TitleGeschichte der deutschen Malerei
SeriesGeschichte der deutschen Kunst
Volume3
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1890
Link https://archive.org/details/geschichtederdeu03jani
Show Literature
Cat. Schleissheim 1885 No. 232
AuthorAdolf Bayersdorfer
TitleVerzeichnis der in Königlichen Galerie zu Schleißheim ausgestellten Gemälde
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1885
Show Literature
Cat. Schleissheim 1875 No. 179 ?
Authorn. a.
TitleGemälde-Verzeichnis der Königlichen Bayerischen Staats-Galerie in Schleissheim
Year of Publication1875
Show Literature
Cat. Schleissheim 1831 No. 312
AuthorGeorg von Dillis
TitleVerzeichnis der in der Königlichen Galerie zu Schleißheim ausgestellten Werke
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1831
Show Literature
Heller 1821 21
AuthorJoseph Heller
TitleVersuch über das Leben und die Werke Lucas Cranachs
Place of PublicationBamberg
Year of Publication1821
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/heller1821
Show Literature
Cat. Schleissheim 1810 No. 62
AuthorChristian von Mannlich
TitleFortgesetzte Beschreibung der Königlich-Baierischen Gemälde-Sammlungen
Volume3
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1810
Show Literature
  • The Beheading of St Catherine, after 1515

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: limewood (Tilia sp.)

  • analysed by Peter Klein

09. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry material, (dark chalk?)

Type/Ductus:

- traced linear underdrawing?

- thin lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; the lines delineate the contours and describe facial features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- only minor alterations during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible; workshop?

Comments:

- may be with reference to a pre-existing design

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2010Technical Examination

Support

- strips of fibrous material were attached to the panel at right angles to the joins

  • written by Gunnar Heydenreich

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

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

Support

- limewood (Tilia sp.)

- 5 boards, widths from the left: top: 12.0, 12.0, 11.9, 11.9, 10.3 cm, bottom: 11.4, 12.2, 12.2, 11.8, 10.7 cm

- thickness 0.5-1.2 cm

- marks made with a scraper

- knots, even large ones were left in the wood

- incomplete application of tow along the joins and over the knots

- the panel was cropped at the top and bottom

- the reverse of the panel exhibits marks made with a plane

Ground and Imprimatura

- the ground and paint layers were applied before the panel was framed

Underdrawing

- none visible

Paint Layers and Gilding

- thin paint layers. The highlights were applied in impasto. A feather was probably use to achieve the fine strokes in the hair and the ornaments

- the areas of blue paint appear green due to the yellowed varnish, the green glazes have become brown

- the black boarders on both sides are original

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Condition Reports

Date1997

Support:

  • old wood worm

  • there is a recent wooden insert on the bottom right corner (4 x 1 cm)

  • the bottom left corner is damaged

  • the central join was reglued and reinforced with blocks on the reverse

  • there are a number of small splits

  • the panel has been cropped at the top and the bottom

Reverse:

  • recently the sides and bottom edge have been bevelled or the original bevell may have been reworked

  • schellack coating

Painted surface:

  • the black painted band around the edge of the panel is abraded

  • along the second join from the right there are large losses in the paint and ground, which have been restored

  • small, long losses scattered across the entire surface

  • extensive craquellée and tenting in the paint layers covering the fabric applications

  • remains of an old varnish

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Conservation History

Date1912

1912 (BStGS, R.P. Nr. 5386)

  • the joins were reglued and reinforced with blocks

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 130]

Versions

The Beheading of St Catherine
  • The Beheading of St Catherine, about 1515
  • CZ_ESGK_KE2371
  • Painting
  • Archdiocese of Olomouc
The Beheading of St Catherine
  • The Beheading of St Catherine, after 1600
  • PRIVATE_NONE-P319
  • Painting
  • Private Collection

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Beheading of St Catherine', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm212/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Beheading of St Catherine', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm212/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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