The Pfirtsch Altar: St Martin [fixed wing panel, left]

Title

[CDA 2011]

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

Medium

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

[Klein, Report 2014]
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]

St Martin is depicted as a full-length figure, standing in front of a landscape and turned to the right. He wears bishop's vestments and gives his coat to the beggar, who sits at his feet.

Reverse:

painted arabeske ornament

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] [Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]
Master of the Mass of St Gregory	[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. Sup. 7]
Hans Abel the Younger	together with Heinrich Vogtherr the Elder [Cat. Aschaffenburg 1932][1] [1][Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. Sup. 7]
Heinrich Vogtherr	together with Hans Abel the Younger [Cat. Aschaffenburg 1932][1] [1][Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. Sup. 7]
Simon Franck	[Tacke 1992, 33, 41-169]

Production dates: 1526
about 1530

Production dates

1526	[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]
1524	[Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007, No. 11, 263]
about 1530	[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 97 x 41.5 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 97 x 41.5 cm
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]

Signature / Dating: None

Owner: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Repository: Staatsgalerie im Schloss Johannisburg, Aschaffenburg
Location: Aschaffenburg

CDA ID: DE_BStGS_6264
FR (1978) Nr.: FRSup007
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6264/

Connected Works

Provenance

until 1541 in the Collegial Church, Halle
from the Collegial Church, Aschaffenburg

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 141, No. 6264]

Exhibitions

Munich 2011, No. 23

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Schawe 2021

Fig. 6

Author	Martin Schawe
Title	Das Holz der Bilder. Zum Pfirtschen Altar aus dem Neuen Stift Halle.
Publication	in Dagmar Täube, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere und Hans Kemmer. Meistermaler zwischen Renaissance und Reformation [Lübeck, St. Annen-Museum]
Place of Publication	Munich
Year of Publication	2021
Pages	145-157

Show Literature

Cat. Coburg 2018

36, 142

under no. 2

Author	Klaus Weschenfelder
Title	Cranach 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 Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2018

Show Literature

Heydenreich 2017 A

Author	Gunnar Heydenreich
Title	Cranach? Fragen der Zuschreibung im Lichte kunsttechnologischer Untersuchungen
Publication	in Gunnar Heydenreich, Daniel Görres, Beat Wismer, eds., Lucas Cranach der Ältere. Meister - Marke - Moderne. [Exhib. Cat. Düsseldorf 2017]
Place of Publication	Munich
Year of Publication	2017
Link	https://lucascranach.org/application/files/7316/7870/1704/Heydenreich_2017_Cranach_Fragen_der_Zuschreibung.pdf
Pages	72-81

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011

112-117, 141

Nos. 23, 6264

Fig. p. 113

Author	Martin Schawe
Editor	Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Title	Cranach in Bayern
Place of Publication	Munich
Year of Publication	2011

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007

263-264

No. 11e

Fig. p. 266

Editor	Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke
Title	Cranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht - Schatzkammer - Residenz. Ausstellungskatalog Schloss Johannisburg und Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2007

Show Literature

Schawe 2007 A

215, 221

Fig. 1

Author	Martin Schawe
Title	Cranach in Aschaffenburg. 1814 bis heute
Publication	in Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, ed., Cranach im Exil- Aschafffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht, Schatzkammer, Residenz
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2007
Pages	215-225

Show Literature

Emmendörffer 1998

218

Author	Christoph Emmendörffer
Title	Die selbständigen Cranachschüler
Publication	in Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, eds., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	1998
Pages	203-228

Show Literature

Tacke 1992

33, 41-169

Author	Andreas Tacke
Title	Der katholische Cranach. Zu zwei Großaufträgen von Lucas Cranach d. Ä., Simon Franck und der Cranach-Werkstatt (1520 - 1540)
Series	Berliner Schriften zur Kunst
Volume	2
Place of Publication	Mainz
Year of Publication	1992

Show Literature

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979

161

No. Sup7

Fig. Sup7

Author	Max J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
Editor	G. Schwartz
Title	Die Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of Publication	Basel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication	1979

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

'Peter Klein identified a further 15 paintings on panels that came from the same tree as that of the 'St Martin' (6262) [6264] displayed here. without exception the panels are all signed: among others the 'Portrait of Albrecht of Brandenburg as St Jerome' from 1527 (Berlin, Gemäldegalerie), the depiction of 'Apollo and Diana' (ebenda) and 'The Judgement of Paris' in Karlsruhe (Kunsthalle), both dated 1530, the undated 'Family of Wild People' (formerly Donaueschingen; today Stuttgart, Staatsgalerie), numerous portraits of Luther from the year 1529 (Bremen, Roseliushaus; Darmstadt, Hessisches Landesmuseum) as well as 'Venus in a Landscape' from the Louvre in Paris. The majority of these paintings were created between 1527 and 1530 and thus support the later dating of the Pfirtsch Altarpiece wing panels.'

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, No. 24, 115]

The Pfirtsch Altar: St Martin [fixed wing panel, left], 1526

Images

Documents

DE_BStGS_6264_FRSup007_2013_analysis-report-001.pdf

Technical studies

2013 - 2019Scientific analysis

Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

DE_BStGS_6264_FRSup007_2013_analysis-report-001.pdf

Support

Identification of wood species: beech wood

Plank I: 77 annual rings, 1521-1445; plank II: 121 annual rings, 1522-1402; plank III: 61 annual rings, 1524-1464; plank IV: 129 annual rings, 1523-1395; plank V: 87 annual rings, 1506-1420

- the youngest annual ring is from 1524; following a two year seasoning period the earliest date for the painting is 1526

[Klein report, 11.08.2019

analysed by Peter Klein

06. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
photographed by Ingo Sandner

17.06.2010Scientific analysis

Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

- 5 planks (plank II and IV from the same tree as 15 others, see list)

- youngest annual ring: 1524, the earliest date the painting could have been produced (including a two year seasoning period) is 1526

[Martin Schawe, Alte Pinakothek Munich, 01.04.2011]

- DE_SKK_0109_FR255

- DE_SMG_SG17_FR312-313D

- DE_smbGG_589_FR184

- US_IMA_2000-344_FR218

- DE_smbGG_564_FR271

- FIN_FNG_S-1994-224_FR-none

- DE_KSW_G6_FR311A

- DE_KBSB_B59_FR312-313C

- DE_HLMD_GK73a

- DE_KBSB_B60

- DE_SWK_6545

- US_PMA_739

- F_MdLP_1180

- Martin Luther, Privat

- Martin Luther, Oldenburg 52

examined by Peter Klein

06. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, dark medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand schematic underdrawing (where visible)

- thin lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines (presumably) delineate contours and indicate the essential features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- almost no alterations made during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder or workshop of Simon Franck?

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich revised 2014]

photographed by BStGS Doerner Institut

Condition Reports

Date01.04.2011

Support:

top right corner reconstructed

written by Martin Schawe

Support made from the same tree

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'The Pfirtsch Altar: St Martin [fixed wing panel, left]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6264/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'The Pfirtsch Altar: St Martin [fixed wing panel, left]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_6264/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.