Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso]

Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso]

Title

Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso]

[cda 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2015]

Recto: full-length depiction of St John the Baptist facing right against a dark background. The Baptist is wearing the typical fur robe and holds a lamb with a victory flag on his arm, while making the gesture of blessing or victory.

Recto: full-length depiction of St Sixtus facing right against

Recto: full-length depiction of St John the Baptist facing right against a dark background. The Baptist is wearing the typical fur robe and holds a lamb with a victory flag on his arm, while making the gesture of blessing or victory.

Recto: full-length depiction of St Sixtus facing right against a dark background. He is wearing bishop's vestments.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop

[Cat. Merseburg 2006, 49-55]

Production dates
1537
1535 - 1537

Production dates

1537

[Vereinigte Domstifter, revised 2014]

1535 - 1537

[Cat. Merseburg 2006, 49-55]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 167.5 x 67 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 167.5 x 67 cm

  • [Cat. Merseburg 2006, 49-55]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels
  • on the halo: 'S: IOHANNES DER TEVFFER' [recto]
  • on the halo: 'SANCTVS SIXTVS' [verso]
    [cda 2015] none

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on the halo: 'S: IOHANNES DER TEVFFER' [recto]
    • on the halo: 'SANCTVS SIXTVS' [verso]

  • [cda 2015]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • none

  • [cda 2015]

Owner
Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
Repository
Domstift Merseburg
Location
Merseburg
CDA ID
DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001b
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001b/

Overall view of the piece
Connected Works

Altarpiece of St Heinrich [central panel]: Cruxifiction [recto]; Lamentation [verso]
  • Altarpiece of St Heinrich [central panel]: Cruxifiction [recto]; Lamentation [verso], 1537
  • DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001a
  • Painting
  • Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left moveable wing]: St Lawrence [recto]; St Heinrich [verso]
  • Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left moveable wing]: St Lawrence [recto]; St Heinrich [verso], 1537
  • DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001c
  • Painting
  • Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left fixed wing]: St Bartholomew [recto]; St Maximus [verso]
  • Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left fixed wing]: St Bartholomew [recto]; St Maximus [verso], 1537
  • DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001d
  • Painting
  • Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
Altarpiece of St Heinrich [right fixed wing]: St Romanus [verso]; St John the Evangelist [recto]
  • Altarpiece of St Heinrich [right fixed wing]: St Romanus [verso]; St John the Evangelist [recto], 1537
  • DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001e
  • Painting
  • Vereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz

Provenance

  • part of the St Heinrich Altarpiece in the chapel of St Michael in Merseburg cathedral and belonging to the monument dedicated to the donor Bishop Sigismund von Lindenau
    [Cat. Merseburg 2006, 49-55]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner 2021 72, 77
AuthorIngo Sandner
TitleDie Werkstattpraxis Lucas Cranach des Älteren
Publicationin Dagmar Täube, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere und Hans Kemmer. Meistermaler zwischen Renaissance und Reformation [Lübeck, St. Annen-Museum]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2021
Pages71-81
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Merseburg 2015
EditorMarkus Cottin, Väclav Vok Filip, Holger Kunde
Title1000 Jahre. Kaiserdom Merseburg, [Merseburg, Merseburger Dom und Kulturhistorisches Museum Schloss]
Place of PublicationPetersberg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Ramm 2015 159-162 Figs.22, 25
AuthorPeter Ramm
TitleBischof Sigismunds Heinrichskapelle
Publicationin Markus Cottin, Väclav Vok Filip, Holger Kunde, eds.,1000 Jahre. Kaiserdom Merseburg, [Exhib. Cat. Merseburg]
Place of PublicationPetersberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages153-175
Show Literature
Sandner 2015 A
AuthorIngo Sandner
TitleDer Heinrichsaltar im Dom zu Merseburg. Neue Erkenntnisse
Publicationin Markus Cottin, Václav Vok Filip, Holger Kunde, eds.,1000 Jahre Kaiserdom Merseburg, Exhib. Cat. Merseburg
Place of PublicationPetersberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages176-179
Show Literature
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 131, Fn. 13, 136, Fn. 64
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
TitleVeränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages128-141
Show Literature
Cat. Merseburg 2006 49-55 II.1
AuthorHolger Kunde, Markus Hörsch
EditorVereinigte Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
TitleDas Merseburger Kapitelhaus. Domschatz, Domstiftarchiv und Domstiftsbibliothek
SeriesKleine Schriften der Vereinigten Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatenstifts Zeitz
Volume4
Place of PublicationPetersberg
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Deckert 1935 32
AuthorHermann Deckert
TitleDer Dom zu Merseburg und seine Kunstdenkmäler
Place of PublicationBurg near Merseburg
Year of Publication1935
Show Literature
Flechsig 1900 A 131
AuthorEduard Flechsig
TitleCranachstudien
Volume1
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1900
Link page/n5/mode/2up
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 92-93 349
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

A copy of the contract for the Heinrich Altarpiece that went to ,meyster Lucas Mahlern’ has been found. In the contract the iconography of the panels as well as a lost predella are described in great detail and should be assembled in the following order: Interior: St John the Baptist – The Crucifixion – Emperor Henry II.

Exterior: Maximus – Pope Sixtus – Lawrence – Romanus

Reverse: St John the Evangelist – The Lamentation – Bartholomew

Predella: Christ Blessing

In accordance with this new documented evidence the panels have been rearranged with one exception. The arrangement in the contract was evidently changed during the execution as in the constellation described Maximus and Bartholomew would both be facing outwards. This wing panel has been turned around.

[Ramm 2015, 159-161]

The images in the cda show the winged altarpiece before the discovery of this document and the associated rearrangement.

  • Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso], 1537

Images

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

Technical studies

03. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

St John the Baptist [recto]

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid black medium, brush

Type/Ductus:

- relatively economic freehand underdrawing

- thin lines; frequently very short

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; almost no changes; handwritten text at the bottom right next to St John’s foot

St Sixtus [verso]

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible because an almost complete painting of another saint (or the same saint with another attribution) exists beneath the present version (see hands in the chest area)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- assistant working for Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2015]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001b/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Altarpiece of St Heinrich [left movable wing]: St John Baptist [recto]; St Sixtus [verso]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_DSM_NONE-DSM001b/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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