The Adoration of the Infant Christ, Epitaph for the Mayor Benedikt Krull and his Family

The Adoration of the Infant Christ, Epitaph for the Mayor Benedikt Krull and his Family

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

Soft wood

[Heydenreich, cda 2017]

The panel depicts a scene showing the Virgin and Joseph in adoration of the infant Christ in a ruinous classical architectural setting. The infant lies in a crib surrounded by golden rays and angels. The Virgin kneels before her child with her arms crossed. Her distant gaze represents the 'inner

The panel depicts a scene showing the Virgin and Joseph in adoration of the infant Christ in a ruinous classical architectural setting. The infant lies in a crib surrounded by golden rays and angels. The Virgin kneels before her child with her arms crossed. Her distant gaze represents the 'inner vision' of events from the history of salvation. In the background a landscape with the annunciation of the shepherds is visible through the partly collapsed back wall of the stable. Separated from the biblical illustration by a wall the donor family kneels in the foreground. Benedikt Krull is larger and he has more individual features than the rest of the family. The blessing comes directly out of his mouth, and the dating corresponds with the year of his death.

[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

Attribution
Unknown

Attribution

Unknown

[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]
'former member of the Cranach Workshop'
[Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Dating
1526

Dating

1526

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 132 x 102 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 132 x 102 cm

  • [Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

  • Dimensions of visible painted surface: 127 x 95.8 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 149.3 x 118.5 cm

  • [Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Inscriptions

'HER ERBARM DICH VNNSER VND BENEDIE VNNS, 1526'
[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

Inscriptions

Inscriptions:

  • 'HER ERBARM DICH VNNSER VND BENEDIE VNNS, 1526'

  • [Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

Owner
Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri - St. Marien, Berlin
Repository
Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri - St. Marien, Berlin
Location
Berlin
CDA ID
DE_EKGStPStM_2
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_EKGStPStM_2/

Provenance

- formerly in the Nikolaikirche, Berlin.
In accordance with Georg Gottfried Küster's written documentation from the end of the 18th century, stating that the painting depicted 'Chancellor and family who were buried here in the church' the painting was considered to be an epitaph for Chancellor Wolfgang Kettwig. This was corrected by Albrecht Hoffmann, who on the basis of the coat of arms identified it as an epitaph for the mayor of Berlin Benedikt Krull (d. 1526).
[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

Exhibitions

Berlin 2009, No. VIII.7

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Hoffmann 2009 239
AuthorAlbrecht Hoffmann
TitlePatrizier Marienkirche Berlin - Stifterbilder nach 1500
Year of Publication2009
Link http://patrizier-marienkirche-berlin.de/index.php/stifterbilder-nach-1500
Show Literature
Cat. Berlin 1975 B 41
AuthorErnst Badstübner
EditorGemeindekirchenrat von St. Marien und St. Nikolai zu Berlin
TitleDie Berliner Marienkirche und ihre Kunstwerke
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1975
Show Literature
Leh 1957 38
AuthorGustav Leh
TitleDie St. Marien-Kirche zu Berlin. Ihre Geschichte und ihr Bild
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1957
Show Literature
Borrmann 1893 229
AuthorRichard Borrmann
TitleDie Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler von Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1893
Show Literature
Küster 1737 239
AuthorGeorg Gottfried Küster, Johann Christian Müller
TitleAltes und Neues Berlin. Das ist: Vollständige Nachricht von der Stadt Berlin, derselben Erbauern, Lage, Kirchen, Gymnasiis
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1737
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

[The panel] clearly illustrates the impact of the [Cranach workshop] in Berlin where various different workshops seemed to have been inspired by the example of the saxon court painter even before the refurbishment of the cathedral began.

[Maria Dieters, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 267, 268, No. VIII.7]

  • The Adoration of the Infant Christ, Epitaph for the Mayor Benedikt Krull and his Family, 1526

Images

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License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Technical studies

03. 2016Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini, cda 2017]

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

Support

- Soft wood

- planks in vertical direction

[Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Adoration of the Infant Christ, Epitaph for the Mayor Benedikt Krull and his Family', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_EKGStPStM_2/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Adoration of the Infant Christ, Epitaph for the Mayor Benedikt Krull and his Family', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_EKGStPStM_2/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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