Wings from the Altarpiece for the West Chancel of Naumburg Cathedral [right wing]: The Apostel James the Elder and St Mary Magdalene with Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg (1492-1517) as Donor [interior]

Wings from the Altarpiece for the West Chancel of Naumburg Cathedral [right wing]: The Apostel James the Elder and St Mary Magdalene with Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg (1492-1517) as Donor [interior]

Title

Wings from the Altarpiece for the West Chancel of Naumburg Cathedral [right wing]: The Apostel James the Elder and St Mary Magdalene with Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg (1492-1517) as Donor [interior]

[cda 2014]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Schade, in Kunde 2006, 130]

James the Elder can be identified by the pilgrim hat and the walking stick. He holds rosary beads in his left hand as he had already been depicted in Cranach's Apostle series. Mary Magdalene is dressed in contemporary clothing, as is typical of Cranach. She holds a decorated ointment jar

James the Elder can be identified by the pilgrim hat and the walking stick. He holds rosary beads in his left hand as he had already been depicted in Cranach's Apostle series. Mary Magdalene is dressed in contemporary clothing, as is typical of Cranach. She holds a decorated ointment jar in her hands. Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg (1492-1517), is shown in a red robe (that of a cardinal?), holding his beret in his hand. Whether he is kneeling remains unknown, beside him are his coat-of-arms, as bishop of Naumburg, a crozier and a mitre. He is facing right, and serves as a pendant to his successor Bishop Philipp von Freising.

[Schade, Kunde 2006, 130, 131]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder (and workshop)
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder (and workshop)

[Domstift Naumburg, revised 2014]
[Schade, in Kunde 2006, 130]
[Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, No. 54]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

(Master of the Pflock Altarpiece?)
[Tacke 2007 C, 84-85] and [Tacke 2007 A, 84-89] (English version)

Production dates
about 1518 - 1519
1537

Production dates

about 1518 - 1519

[Schade, Kunde 2006, 130]

1537

[Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003, No. 54]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 239 x 100 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 239 x 100 cm

  • [Schade, Kunde 2006, 130]

Owner
Domstift Naumburg
Repository
Domstift Naumburg
Location
Naumburg
CDA ID
DE_DSN_NONE-DSN002c
FR (1978) Nr.
FRSup001F
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_DSN_NONE-DSN002c/

Provenance

-The altarpiece was most probably commissioned within the context of a memorial for Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg by his successor Philipp von Wittelsbach on the 25th of September 1518 (transcription of the document in Liber flavus, fol. 50, Domstiftsarchiv, Naumburg). [...]
The accounts of the Fabrica reveal that in the year 1518 painting was carried out in the east and west Chancel, in connection with this the donor figures in the west chancel were 'renovated' (the preview was on the 29th of June 1518). Consequentially it may be assumed that Bishop Johannes II. von Schönberg had already begun installing his own sepulcral monument and that his successor Philipp von Wittelsbach only had to oversee the completion of the work. However, it may be assumed that the bishop was already dead when his portrait was included on the wing panel. Cranach's name has to date only been found mentioned once: in the week of the 27th of March 1519 the Domstift's delivery boy was paid for conveying a message on horseback to Master Lucas in Wittenberg regarding the panel in the west chancel of the cathedral.
[Schade, Kunde 2006, 135, 136]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1899, No. 156
Hamburg 2003, No. 54

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Kunde, Ludwig 2023
AuthorHolger Kunde, Matthias Ludwig
TitleDer Marienaltar im Westchor des Naumburger Domes und seine Altarflügel von Lucas Cranach dem Älteren. Eine kritische Quellenstudie
Publication(Preprint Online, https://www.vereinigte-domstifter.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023_01_25_Der-Marienaltar-im-Westchor-des-Naumburger-Domes-und-seine-Altarfluegel-von-Lucas-Cranach-dem-Aelteren.-Eine-kritische-Quellenstudie.pdf, accessed 28-04-2023)
SeriesSchriftenreihe der Vereinigten Domstifter
Year of Publication2023
Link https://www.vereinigte-domstifter.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023_01_25_Der-Marienaltar-im-Westchor-des-Naumburger-Domes-und-seine-Altarfluegel-von-Lucas-Cranach-dem-Aelteren.-Eine-kritische-Quellenstudie.pdf
Sandner 2021 72
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
Tacke 2015 83
AuthorAndreas Tacke
TitleGleich dem Kaninchen vor der Schlange? Altgläubige und die Wittenberger Bildpropaganda.
Publicationin Julia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha and Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, eds., Bild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages82-90
Tacke 2007 A 84-85 Figs. 3, 4
AuthorAndreas Tacke
TitleWith Cranach's Help. Counter-Reformation Art before the Council of Trent
Publicationin Bodo Brinkman, ed., Cranach, [Exhib. Cat. London, The Royal Academy]
Place of PublicationLondon
Year of Publication2007
Link http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/volltexte/2012/2029
Pages81-89
Tacke 2007 C 82, 84-85 4
AuthorAndreas Tacke
TitleMit Cranachs Hilfe: Antireformatorische Kunstwerke vor dem Tridentiner Konzil
Publicationin Bodo Brinkmann, ed., Cranach der Ältere, [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt am Main]
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Link http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/volltexte/2012/2000
Pages81-89
Kunde 2006 130-137 No. I.20
AuthorHolger Kunde
TitleDer Naumburger Domschatz. Sakrale Kostbarkeiten im Domschatzgewölbe
SeriesKleine Schriften der Vereinigten Domstifter zu Merseburg und Naumburg und des Kollegiatstifts Zeitz
Volume3
Place of PublicationHaldensleben
Year of Publication2006
Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 62, 63, 177 054 Pl. 54
EditorBucerius Kunst Forum, Werner Schade
TitleLucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne [Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg]
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Schade 2003 20 54 Fig. 22
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleBildhaftigkeit bei Cranach
Publicationin Heiz Spielmann, Werner Schade, eds., Lucas Cranach Glaube Mythologie und Maderne , Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Pages12-21
Wiessner 1997/1998 950f. (Bd 1), 962 (Bd 2)
EditorHeinz Wiessner
TitleDas Bistum Naumburg
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBerlin, New York
Year of Publication1997
Erichsen 1994 A 157
AuthorJohannes Erichsen
TitleAltäre Lucas Cranachs und seiner Werkstatt vor der Reformation
Publicationin Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhof, eds., Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmen aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26/94
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Regensburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages150-165
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 No. Sup 1F
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Kaiser 1930/1940 30-32
AuthorBruno Kaiser
TitleDie Kapellen und Altäre der mittelalterlichen Domkirche
Volume833
Place of Publication[n. a.]
Year of Publication1930
Bergner 1903 168f.
AuthorHeinrich Bergner
TitleBeschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler der Stadt Naumburg
Volume24
Place of PublicationHalle
Year of Publication1903
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1899 156
EditorKarl Woermann
TitleDeutsche Kunstausstellung Dresden 1899. Abteilung Cranach-Ausstellung. Wissenschaftliches Verzeichnis der ausgestellten Werke
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1899
Link http://resolver.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/SBB00002A2400000000
Lepsius 1855 C 124 f.
AuthorKarl Peter Lepsius
TitleAlte merkwürdige Gemälde zu Naumburg
Publicationin Albert Schulz, ed., Kleine Schriften. Beiträge zur thüring.-sächs. Geschichte und deutschen Kunst- und Altertumskunde
Place of PublicationMagdeburg
Year of Publication1855
Pages119-134
Zader 1670 fol. 28, third book (Bd. 2)
AuthorJohann Zader
TitleNaumburg-Zeitzische-Stiftschronik
Volume1, 2
Place of Publication[n. a.]
Year of Publication1670

Research History / Discussion

The central panel and the predella are missing from the altarpiece. Nor is it certain whether the wing panels were reduced in height a fact, which seem to be suggested by the remains of an ornamental arch above St Barbara. The panels and the now missing parts of the altarpiece were evidently dismantled by order of the first protestant bishop of Naumburg, Nikolaus von Amsorf (1542-1546) in the year 1544. The two panel were relocated to the east chancel and preserved only because of the portraits.

The chronicler Johann Zader, to whom in the 17th century the price of the altarpiece was still known (one panel cost more than 500 Gilders), just mentions portrait panels without naming the artist. He records the location in the west chancel (old chancel).

There can be no doubt that the altarpiece was commissioned within the context of a memorial for Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg by his successor Philipp von Wittelsbach on the 25th of September 1518 (transcription of the document in Liber flavus, fol. 50, Domstiftsarchiv, Naumburg). The sepulchral monument for Bishop Johannes was evidently installed in the centre of the transpect in the west chancel. Only the damaged remnants of the bronze inscription mounted on a pillar in the nave survived the fire of 1532. Within the context of a newly commissioned altarpiece single existing elements may have been amalgamated. At least the depiction of the saints on the two wing panels suggests a correlation with the altarpiece of St Mary Magdalene (documented since 1287) and the Altarpiece of St Philip and James, Catharine and Barbara commissioned by the Dean Henning Grope about 1410.

The accounts of the Fabrica reveal that in the year 1518 painting was carried out in the east and west Chancel, in connection with this the donor figures in the west chancel were ‚renovated‘ (the preview was on the 29th of June 1518). Consequentially it may be assumed that Bishop Johannes II. von Schönberg had already begun installing his own sepulcral monument and that only the completion of works was left to his successor Philipp von Wittelsbach. However the inclusion of the portrait on the wing panel is subordinate to the death of the Bishop. Cranach’s name has to date only been found mentioned once: in the week of the 27th of March 1519 the Domstift’s delivery boy was paid for conveying a message on horseback to Master Lucas in Wittenberg regarding the panel in the west chancel of the cathedral.

There is no lack of entries pertaining to expenses incurred for transportation and scaffolding, even iron, pins and a lock are mentioned in association with the altarpiece. The destruction of the fire in 1532 does not seem to have affected the altarpiece, therefore it may be assumed that it was the main altarpiece in the chancel. If this is the case then the lost central component would most certainly have contained a depiction of the Mother of God – the patron of the west chancel.

As central component for the altarpiece the large carved figure of the Virgin [Kunde 2006, No. I.19] would proffer itself if records didn’t suggest its isolated position above the rood screen, far away from the assembly on the altar of the sanctuary. Like many of Cranach’s altarpieces the difference between the inner and outer sides of the wings is striking. The freestanding figures on the exterior of the wing panels with clearly represented attributes - sword and chalice - against a dark background alternate with the broad indistinct groups represented on the interior against a gold background. The stationary figures are as it were dismissed by the crowded interior.

[Schade, Kunde 2006, 135, 136, 137]

  • Wings from the Altarpiece for the West Chancel of Naumburg Cathedral [right wing]: The Apostel James the Elder and St Mary Magdalene with Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg (1492-1517) as Donor [interior], about 1518 - 1519

Images

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Technical studies

05. 2011Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid black medium, brush

Type/Ductus:

- relatively detailed freehand underdrawing

- thin to somewhat broader lines

- isolated hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define facial features; isolated representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- an assistant to Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- Mary Magdalene could be a portrait (Leys Schütz?)

- the portrait of Bishop Johannes III. von Schönberg is after a pre-existing design

[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>, 'Wings from the Altarpiece for the West Chancel of Naumburg Cathedral [right wing]: The Apostel James the Elder and St Ma…', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_DSN_NONE-DSN002c/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
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