Christ and the Adulteress

Christ and the Adulteress

Title

Christ and the Adulteress

[CDA 2011]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

The scene depicts full-length figures in an undefined architectural setting with renaissance ornamentation. Jesus stands in the centre and holds the adulteress with his right hand. There is a group of men behind them on the right edge of the painting. One of the men holds a stone in his

The scene depicts full-length figures in an undefined architectural setting with renaissance ornamentation. Jesus stands in the centre and holds the adulteress with his right hand. There is a group of men behind them on the right edge of the painting. One of the men holds a stone in his hand. Another group can be seen on the left. In this group the clothing of the man gesticulating sets him apart from the rest (he exhibits the features of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg). On the left in the background an old man is depicted on the steps holding a stone in his raised hand. There is a dog on the right in the foreground.

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 90, No. 17]

Attributions
Anonymous Master from the Cranach Workshop
Master of the Mass of St Gregory

Attributions

Anonymous Master from the Cranach Workshop

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Master of the Mass of St Gregory

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. Sup 14]

Hans Abel the Younger

[Cat. Aschaffenburg 1932][1]
[1][Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. Sup. 14]

Production date
about 1520 -1525

Production date

about 1520 -1525

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 140, No. 6246]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 112.8 x 97.1 cm (trimmed on all four sides)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 112.8 x 97.1 cm (trimmed on all four sides)

  • [Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Owner
Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository
Staatsgalerie im Schloss Johannisburg, Aschaffenburg
Location
Aschaffenburg
CDA ID
DE_BStGS_6246
FR (1978) Nr.
FRSup014
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6246/

Provenance

  • from the Galerie Zweibrücken; possibly formerly in the Collegial Church, Halle

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

Exhibitions

Munich 2011, No. 17

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011 90-93, 140 Nos. 17, 6246 Figs. p. 91-93
AuthorMartin Schawe
EditorBayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
TitleCranach in Bayern
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007 293 No. 37 Fig. p. 294
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
Merkel 2007 A 87-88 Figs. 6, 7
AuthorKerstin Merkel
TitleDie Konkubinen des Kardinals - Legenden und Fakten
Publicationin Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Pages77-97
Show Literature
Schawe 2007 A 215, 220 Figs. 1, 4
AuthorMartin Schawe
TitleCranach in Aschaffenburg. 1814 bis heute
Publicationin Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, ed., Cranach im Exil- Aschafffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht, Schatzkammer, Residenz
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2007
Pages215-225
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 162 No. Sup14 Fig. Sup14
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The depiction of the commissioner of this panel - Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg - has been interpreted as a public confession of sins as he is known to have maintained active contact with his mistresses.

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 90, No. 17]

  • Christ and the Adulteress, about 1520 -1525

Images

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Technical studies

06. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- initial design with a dry drawing material; subsequent second stage in a fluid medium with brushes of varying width

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing over an initial design

- construction lines for the architectural elements in part drawn using a ruler

- occasional hatching-strokes

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form; small changes (e. g. position of the eyes and fingers, etc.)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- long-term assistant in the Cranach workshop (Master of the Mass of St Gregory. Apprentice)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2016]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Christ and the Adulteress', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6246/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ and the Adulteress', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6246/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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