The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child

The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child

Title

The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140]

'St John as a small boy kneels reverently in front of the Christ child, who stands on his mother's knee facing him. The Virgin looks out at the viewer with the slit eyes so typical of Cranach and her head is inclined slightly to the left. The fur robe worn …

'St John as a small boy kneels reverently in front of the Christ child, who stands on his mother's knee facing him. The Virgin looks out at the viewer with the slit eyes so typical of Cranach and her head is inclined slightly to the left. The fur robe worn by St John is a reference to his future life of penance [...] The curtain is on the one hand an expression of grandeur, but also serves to emphasis the volume of the figures. The flowers on the windowledge appear to be camomil, a plant known for its healing powers for among others womens diseases.'

[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, 276]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140]

Production date
1534

Production date

1534

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 120.8 x 82.6 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 120.8 x 82.6 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the window frame: winged serpent and dated '1534'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the window frame: winged serpent and dated '1534'

Owner
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Staatsgalerie im Schloss Johannisburg, Aschaffenburg
Location
Aschaffenburg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS_5566
FR (1978) Nr.
FR228H
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_5566/

Provenance

  • origin unknown
  • 1811 transferred from the Neue Residenz Bamberg to a branch of the Royal Gallery in Nuremberg Castle
    [Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011 140
AuthorMartin Schawe
EditorBayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
TitleCranach in Bayern
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007 276 No. 17 Fig. p. 276
EditorGerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke
TitleCranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht - Schatzkammer - Residenz. Ausstellungskatalog Schloss Johannisburg und Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 No. 228H
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Cat. Aschaffenburg 1975 44
Authorn. a.
TitleBayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Galerie Aschaffenburg. Katalog
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1975
Show Literature
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  • The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child, 1534

Overall

File name: DE_BStGS_5566_FR228H_2012-06_Overall
File type / description: Digital image
Date: 2012-06
Author & Rights: Gunnar Heydenreich, cda
Source: cda

Images

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Technical studies

06. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing

- thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_5566/ (Accessed 27.2.2025)
Entry with no author
'The Virgin and Child with St John as a Child', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_5566/ (Accessed 27.2.2025)

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