Katharina of Bora

Title

Katharina of Bora

[cda 2017]

Painting on hardwood

Medium

Painting on hardwood	[Heydenreich, cda 2017]
Painting on oak	[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 2015, 104, no. 34]

Katharina as a half-length figure against a brown background, facing left; she is wearing a black dress with a fur-trimmed collar and her arms are folded.

Attributions: Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Heydenreich, cda 2017]
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 2015, 105, no. 35]

Production date: after 1537

Production date

after 1537

[dated, not genuine]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 51 x 36 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 51 x 36 cm
[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 2015, 105, no. 35]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia at the right edge: serpent (with elevated wings) and dated '1537' (not genuine)

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the right edge: serpent (with elevated wings) and dated '1537' (not genuine)

Inscriptions and Labels: Insciption upper edge:
'KATHARINA. A. BOR. VXOR. ACERRIMI. CHRISTI. JESV. SALVATORIS. NOSTRI. PER. GERMANIAM. APOSTOLI. DNI. DOCTORIS. MARTINI LUTHERI. …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

Insciption upper edge:
'KATHARINA. A. BOR. VXOR. ACERRIMI. CHRISTI. JESV. SALVATORIS. NOSTRI. PER. GERMANIAM. APOSTOLI. DNI. DOCTORIS. MARTINI LUTHERI. 70.'
[Steche 1890, 47]

Owner: Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde, Penig
Repository: Kirche Unser Lieben Frauen Auf Dem Berge, Penig
Location: Penig

CDA ID: DE_ELKP_002
FR (1978) Nr.: FR149A
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ELKP_002/

Provenance

from the estate of Canon Dr. Burscher, Leipzig
1848 donated by C. Friedrich Aug. Roch to the church of 'Unser Lieber Frauen Auf Dem Berge'
1890 kept in the sacristy
[Steche 1890, 47]

Exhibitions

Eisenach 2015, no. 35

Research History / Discussion

[The portrait of Luther] shows all the merits and mannerisms of the master with its meticulous execution and appears to be at least a distinguished work by a pupil if not by Cranach himself […] – the bust-length portrait of Katharina Luther […] is executed with less care and artistic merit. It appears to be a companion piece painted later.

[Steche 1890, 47]

Although these portraits [Luther and Katharina] are ill-matched they belong together thus associating the representations of 'Junker Jörg' from 1522 with those of Katharina in the marriage portraits. Her portrait draws on later versions from 1529 […].

[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 2015, 104, no. 34]

Connected Works

Katharina of Bora, after 1537

Images

Documents

DE_ELKP_002_FR149A_Analysis-report-XRF.pdf

Technical studies

Support

- hardwood

- broad bevel along the edges

- open worm channels

[Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Conservation History

Date2015

removal of the varnish and extensive overpaint, particularly in the blue background

conservation treatment by Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Sachsen

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Katharina of Bora', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ELKP_002/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Katharina of Bora', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ELKP_002/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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