Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]

Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]

Title

Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]

[cda 2019]

Painting on hardwood

Medium

Painting on hardwood

[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]

The recto shows Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560) baptizing an infant. [...] Here the motif has been expanded to include a group of finely dressed women, some with their backs to the viewer. They have gathered around the imposing chalice-shaped baptismal font, which is decorated with grotesque elements. Masks of male sea

The recto shows Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560) baptizing an infant. [...] Here the motif has been expanded to include a group of finely dressed women, some with their backs to the viewer. They have gathered around the imposing chalice-shaped baptismal font, which is decorated with grotesque elements. Masks of male sea monsters are depicted in the vines, as well as the figure of a man seated on a column and a naked water nymph. Melanchthon and other members of the community stand around the font, as well as two men, assisting with the baptism. One of them has been identified as Caspar Aquila (1488-1560). He holds an open book and looks out at the viewer. The open page is from St Mark's Gospel (Mk 16, 16) with texts in both German (left) and Latin (right). Another man beside Melanchthon holds a white cloth to wrap the infant in after the immersion.

The scene on the reverse depicts a scene described in the 4th book of Moses when the Israelites lost patience with God and Moses in the desert. God sent poisonous serpents among the people of Israel, and many were bitten and died. The people repented and asked Moses to intercede for them. God commanded them to erect a serpent of bronze, which would heal those who looked upon it, their faith would save them (4 Mose 21,4-9). The panel shows both the Israelites who were condemned to death after being bitten, as well as those standing on the right who were delivered from death by looking at the brazen serpent. Moses points with his right raised hand towards the brazen serpent, and with his left hand down at the deadly serpents crawling along the ground.

[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 83-86]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach der Ältere
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop

Attributions

Lucas Cranach der Ältere

and Lucas Cranach the Younger and workshop
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]

Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop

... and Lucas Cranach the Elder
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]

Production date
1547 - 1548

Production date

1547 - 1548

[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 254.7 x 107 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 254.7 x 107 cm

  • Dimensions of the entire altarpiece: 447 x 562 cm

  • [Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Recto:
'The man on Melanchthon's left holds an open book, showing a verse from the St Mark's Gospel (Mk …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • Recto:

  • 'The man on Melanchthon's left holds an open book, showing a verse from the St Mark's Gospel (Mk 16, 16). The text is written in both Latin (right) and German (left).'

Owner
Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Repository
Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Location
Wittenberg
CDA ID
DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001b
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001b/

Provenance

  • begun in 1547, installed in the church in 1548
    [Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75, 76]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015 75-100
EditorJan Harasimowicz, Bettina Seyderhelm
TitleCranachs Kirche. Begleitbuch zur Landesausstellung Sachsen-Anhalt Cranach der Jüngere 2015
Place of PublicationMarkkleeberg
Year of Publication2015

Research History / Discussion

Prototypes for the scene of the baptism may be found on the title pages of Martin Luther's ''Kleinen Katechismus' and his 'Taufbüchleins', both images were designed in the Cranach workshop.

[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 83, 84]

  • Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing], 1547 - 1548

Images

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Conservation History

Date1928

In 1928 the Pozzi frame was removed, the separated panels were reunited and a new frame was made. The following inscription was incorporated in a decorative element on the front of the frame 'Einen andern Grund kann niemand legen / außer dem, der gelegt ist, welcher ist / JESUS CHRISTUS'., and on the reverse of the frame the following inscription was added: 'Diese, von Lukas Cranach d. Ä. / gemalten Altarbilder wurden i. J. 1546 fertig / und i. J. 1928 neu gefaßt.' The new frame covered the paintied image to a small extent, e. g. the figure of a young woman listening to Luther preach.

Zdunczyk, in: [Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 96]

Date1811 - 1812

A new architectural frame was designed for the altarpiece in gothic style by Carlo Ignazio Pozzi (1766-1842) while renovstion work was been carried out in the church between 1811/12. At this time the back of the altarpiece was walled up.

Zdunczyk, in: [Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 95]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001b/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Reformation altarpiece: The Baptism (recto), The Brazen Serpent (verso) [left wing]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001b/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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