Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

Medium

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

The duke is depicted as a half-length figure turned slightly to the right and he looks in this direction. He wears a simple black robe and a large chain around his neck, which is partially covered by his beard. The background is greenish.

Attribution: Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Production dates: 1534 - 1537
after 1537

Production dates

1534 - 1537	[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
after 1537	[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 43.3 x 32.6 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 43.3 x 32.6 cm
(trimmed at right, left and bottom edges)
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia, top left: winged serpent (with dropped wings)

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia, top left: winged serpent (with dropped wings)
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]

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

CDA ID: DE_BStGS_WAF168
FR (1978) Nr.: FR413
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/

Provenance

1827 acquired from the Boisserée Collection
[Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]
1911 Gallery in Schleissheim
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]
1963 Alte Pinakothek, Munich
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011

134

No. WAF 168

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

Show Literature

Decot 2007

Fig. 1

Author	Rolf Decot
Title	Ein Kirchenfürst in schwieriger Zeit: Albrecht von Brandenburg (1513/14-1545)
Publication	in Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht, Schatzkammer, Residenz, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2007
Pages	55-75

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007

292-293

No. 36

Fig. p. 293

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

Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979

154

No. 413

Fig. 413

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

The portrait is related to the Altarpiece from 1534 in the Cathedral of Meißen.

[Exhib. Cat. Munich 2011, 134, No. WAF168]

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 154, No. 413]

Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony, 1534 - 1537

Images

Documents

DE_BStGS_WAF168_FR413_2013_analysis-report-001.pdf

Technical studies

24.11.2013Scientific analysis

Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

DE_BStGS_WAF168_FR413_2013_analysis-report-001.pdf

Support

- 2 planks, most recent annual ring 1531, the earliest date the painting could have been produced (including a 2 year seasoning period) is 1533

- examined on the 17.06.2010

[Martin Schawe, Alte Pinakothek München, 01.04.2011]

analysed by Peter Klein

06. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk? or traced lines reinforced with a brush?

Type/Ductus:

- traced underdrawing

- delicate and fine to thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- possibly transferred from a preparatory drawing or a pre-existing design (traced)

- top left traces of a coat-of-arms visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

photographed by BStGS Doerner Institut

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Portrait of George (the Bearded), Duke of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_BStGS_WAF168/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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