Pyramus and Thisbe

Pyramus and Thisbe

Painting on fir (Abies sp.)

Medium

Painting on fir (Abies sp.)

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. 2011, 149, No. 13707]

The dying Pyramus lies at the bottom of the painting clothed in a red robe and looking up at his lover Thisbe, who is about to fall on his sword. The spring were they arranged to meet is visible behind them. A lioness with Thisbe's blood-stained veil is visible in

The dying Pyramus lies at the bottom of the painting clothed in a red robe and looking up at his lover Thisbe, who is about to fall on his sword. The spring were they arranged to meet is visible behind them. A lioness with Thisbe's blood-stained veil is visible in the mountainous landscape.

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[cda 2017]

Production date
about 1515 - 1520

Production date

about 1515 - 1520

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 149, No. 13707]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 58 x 39.2 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 58 x 39.2 cm

  • [Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Staatsgalerie in der Neuen Residenz Bamberg
Location
Bamberg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS_13707
FR (1978) Nr.
FR110B
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_13707/

Provenance

  • in the collection of Stefan von Auspitz, Vienna (private collection, Austria)[1]
  • Kurt Bachstitz, The Hague (art market, The Netherlands)[1]
  • Walter Andreas Hofer, Berlin, Aug. 1937 (art market, Germany)[1]
  • bought from Hofer, Berlin, Aug.1937, fl. 10.000,-- (Akt-Göring Pre-war coll.) [2]
  • 1938 [?] from Bachstitz for 9.000,- Fl. (Hofer) [2]
  • whereabouts after 1945: Bavaria, Bay. Staatsgemäldesammlungen: 13707[1]
  • 1966 transferred from State property [3]

[1]Göring Collection: DHM-database:
http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/goering/dhm_goering.php?seite=5&fld_0=RMG00515
[2]http://www.dhm.de/datenbank/ccp/dhm_ccp.php?seite=6&fld_1=5723&fld_3=&auswahl=6&fld_4=&fld_4a=&fld_5=&fld_6=&fld_7=&fld_8=&fld_9=&fld_10=&suchen=Suchen
[3][Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011] [Exhib. Cat. 2011, 149, No. 13707]

See also the entry in the Lost Art-database, Stiftung Deutsches Zentrum für Kulturgutverluste: Lost Art-ID 391053; http://www.lostart.de/DE/Fund/391053 (accessed 17 Dec. 2019).

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011 149 No. 13707
AuthorMartin Schawe
EditorBayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
TitleCranach in Bayern
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 92 No. 110B
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
  • Pyramus and Thisbe, about 1515 - 1520

Images

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

Technical studies

11.06.2010 - 11.06.2011Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

- not possible as there are insufficient annual rings present

[Martin Schawe, Alte Pinakothek Munich, 01.04.2011]

  • examined by Peter Klein

06. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- thin lines

- extensive hatching-strokes

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe essential details and the facial features; representation of volume (hatching-strokes)

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form; small changes (the castle in the background)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- hatching-strokes of this type do not appear on works by Cranach

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by BStGS Doerner Institut

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Pyramus and Thisbe', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_13707/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Pyramus and Thisbe', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_13707/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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