Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark

Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark

Titles

Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 133] [Cat. Nuremberg, 1841][1]; [Schorn 1829, 419][1]
[1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

König Friedrich I. von Dänemark

[Cat. Nuremberg, 1832][1] [1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Herzog

[Cat. Nuremberg, 1829][1] [1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Herzog von Sachsen

[1826 Cat. Coll. Oettingen-Wallerstein][1] [1][Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

A half-length portrait facing right against a green background, which includes the hands. The sitter has brown eyes and a dark brown beard and hair. He is dressed in black. He wears an overcoat with a wide collar, doublet and a beret. The emblem of the order of the golden

A half-length portrait facing right against a green background, which includes the hands. The sitter has brown eyes and a dark brown beard and hair. He is dressed in black. He wears an overcoat with a wide collar, doublet and a beret. The emblem of the order of the golden fleece hangs around his neck - a ram's hide. He has a gold ring on his left thumb. The royal danish coat of arms is in the top right corner.

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 133]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Michaelson 1902, 83]

Production date
1523

Production date

1523

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 55.2 x 38 x 0.7-1 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 55.2 x 38 x 0.7-1 cm

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the left beside the sitter's shoulder: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1523' above the coat-of-arms

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the left beside the sitter's shoulder: winged serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '1523' above the coat-of-arms

  • [CDA 2011]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • top right the Scandinavian coat-of-arms: The main shield is quartered by the Danneborg cross (silver with red edges); in …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top right the Scandinavian coat-of-arms:

  • The main shield is quartered by the Danneborg cross (silver with red edges); in the centre there is a red shield.

  • The main shield depicts:

    1. three crowned blue lions on a gold background (Dennmark)
    1. three golden crowns on a black background, one above two
    1. a lion with a halberd
    1. a golden dragon with a red tongue on a black background (Kingdom of Wenden) quartered by Denmark (the crowned lion), Oldenburg, Jutland (or Gotenreich) and Wenden (King of Wenden) and dated '1523'.

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel on the cradle: in white paint 'Gm. 214'

  • paper label: 'Wittelsbacher / Ausgleichfonds [printed] H.G.172 / (1936) / Inv. S. No. [printed] 377' [in black ink and crossed out with blue pencil]

  • Reverse of the frame:

  • in pencil '38 x 55' (dimensions of the frame)

  • in white chalk '0/52'

  • in yellow pencil 'Nr. 4'

  • paper label from the Cranach exhibition in Berlin 1937

  • [Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Owner
Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfond/Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg
Location
Nuremberg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm214
FR (1978) Nr.
FR150
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm214/

Provenance

  • Boisseree Collection(?)

Loan from the Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds
BStG Inv. Nr. WAF 172

  • in the collection of Duke Oettingen-Wallerstein, registry of deeds 1817-18, § CCII
  • 1828 acquired for the collection of King Ludwig I. of Bavaria, I.W.380
  • from 1829 displayed in the Moritz Chapel in Nuremberg
  • 1882 GNM

[Löcher, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, No. 47
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 24
Weimar 1972, No. 22

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 135, fn. under no. 23
AuthorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleCranach in Coburg. Gemälde von Lucas Cranach d.Ä., Lucas Cranach d.J., der Werkstatt und des Umkreises in den Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2018
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2007 A 50, 98, 102, 134, 206, 350, 397
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
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 133-135
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 100 No. 150 Fig. 150
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Schade 1974 54 Fig. 122
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972 B No. 22
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 24
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1936/1937 39 Fig. 368
AuthorEberhard Lutze, Eberhard Wiegand
TitleKataloge des Germanischen Nationalmuseums zu Nürnberg. Die Gemälde des 13.-16. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 24 047 Pl. 59
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 54 127
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
Firmenich-Richartz 1916 488-489 No. 3
AuthorEduard Firmenich-Richartz
TitleDie Brüder Boisserée
Place of PublicationJena
Year of Publication1916
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1909 214
AuthorHeinz Braune
TitleKatalog der Gemälde-Sammlung des Germanischen Nationalmuseums in Nürnberg
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1909
Show Literature
Michaelson 1902 83
AuthorHedwig Michaelson
TitleLukas Cranach der Ältere. Untersuchung über die stilistische Entwicklung seiner Kunst
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1902
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1893 No. 260
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 No. 227
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 No. 222
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 No. 91
AuthorAugust von Reber
TitleKatalog der Königliche Gemälde. Galerie in der St Moritz Kapelle
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1880
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1871 253-254
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 694-695 (Bd. 1) No. 285
AuthorGustav Parthey
TitleDeutscher Bildersaal. Verzeichnis der in Deutschland vorhandenen Oelbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1864
Show Literature
Heller 1854 87-88
AuthorJoseph Heller
TitleLucas Cranach's Leben und Werke
Place of PublicationNuremberg
Year of Publication1854
Link http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015062799757
Show Literature
Cat. Nuremberg 1828-1846 No. 69
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
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 No. 252
Authorn. a.
TitleCatalogue de la Galerie de Wallerstein
Place of PublicationWallerstein
Year of Publication1826
Show Literature
Cat. Coll. Oettingen-Wallerstein 1819 129 No. 4
Authorn. a.
TitleVerzeichniß der altdeutschen Gemaelde der Fürstlich Oettingen Wallersteinischen Bilder Gallerie in Wallerstein
Place of PublicationHarburg
Year of Publication1819
Show Literature
  • Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark, 1523

Images

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

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry medium, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- traced linear drawing

- thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- probably transferred (traced) from a pre-existing design

- the coat-of-arms in the top right corner is already present in the underdrawing

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

2007Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Ground and Imprimatura

No pigmented imprimatura but oil-based isolation layer on ground layer:

'Such an unpigmented oil-based isolation layer could be clearly detected on the Holy Trinity (c.1515) and the portrait of Christian II of Denmark (1523).29'

[Heydenreich 2007 A, 98, 102]

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

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

Support

- lime wood (Tilia sp.)

- 3 planks. Widths from left to right: Top: 11.8, 12.4, 13.7 cm, bottom: 11.7, 12.6, 13.7 cm.

- the panel was thinned to a thickness of 0.7-1.0 cm

- the knots were left in the wood

- the painted side has an application of coarse tow

- the sides of the panel have been planed slightly

Ground and Imprimatura

- the ground was applied and the panel was painted before it was framed

Underdrawing

- executed with a brush

- the contours and lines within the shapes were drawn. Only the contours of the eyes are visible in the face; the position of the eyes was originally higher

- the coat of arms was executed in the underdrawing

Paint Layers and Gilding

- the green paint in the background has darkened

- fingerprints next to the snake could be original

- the dark brown paint exhibits extensive drying cracks

[Bartl, Cat. Nuremberg 1997, 134]

1995Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Micro-sampling / cross-sections
  • Instrumental material analysis

Examination of paint cross-sections; Incident light microscopy; UV light microscopy; EDX:

Cross-section No: EP 126

Brief description of paint: green background with coloured glaze

Sampling location: right edge of the painting, background green with shadow

Sample No.: 138

Incident light microscopy: yes

UV light microscopy: yes

EDX: yes

Observations:

6. three further layers of retouching and varnish

5. Brown transparent layer -fluoresing more than layer 4

4. Brown transparent layer - on the right edge of the sample there are remains of an old varnish, which fluoresces slightly less than the varnish layers above

3. Green transparent layer - green glaze, very intense green

2. Green layer - bluish green and yellowish green pigment particles, two black pigment particles - possibly verdigris - [EDX: Cu, Pb, Sn - Copper green and Lead tin Yellow]- Underpainting

1. Thin brown layer (without pigment particles), fluorescing bright yellow - [EDX: Pb, Cu, a little Ca, no Fe - almost entirely organic] -Isolating layer

0. White layer - Ground

Commentary: multilayered green paint application

[Heydenreich 1995, unpublished examination report]

  • written by Gunnar Heydenreich

1995Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography
  • x_radiograph
  • x_radiograph

Versions

Portrait of Christian II., King of Denmark
  • Portrait of Christian II., King of Denmark, about 1523 - 1530
  • DE_MdbKL_44
  • Painting
  • Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm214/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of King Christian II. of Denmark', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm214/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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