Epitaph for Nikolaus von Seidlitz: The resurrection and descent into Purgatory

Epitaph for Nikolaus von Seidlitz: The resurrection and descent into Purgatory

Title

Epitaph for Nikolaus von Seidlitz: The resurrection and descent into Purgatory

[cda 2019]

Painting on hardwood

Medium

Painting on hardwood

[Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

The panel depicts the Resurrection of Christ and - smaller in scale in the background - the descent into Purgatory. Christ stands at the centre of the image in front of the rectangular entrance in the rock face to the tomb, wearing a red cloak with a golden border. He

The panel depicts the Resurrection of Christ and - smaller in scale in the background - the descent into Purgatory. Christ stands at the centre of the image in front of the rectangular entrance in the rock face to the tomb, wearing a red cloak with a golden border. He holds the victory banner in his left hand, while offering a blessing with the other. The deceased kneels before him and six watchmen slowly awake from their slumber. Both the young noble man and the watchmen wear contemporary armour. The von Seidlitz family coat of arms is positioned centrally at the lower edge. A scene showing Christ descending into Purgatory occupies the left side in the background. He is shown here at the same time as being shown in the main scene. He stands in front of an arched opening to Hell in the rock where a group of people are in a state of limbo. He grabs a woman's wrist with his right hand. Further back high flames are visible, and above the arch there are four devilish creatures.

[Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Attributions
unknown
Augustin Cranach

Attributions

unknown

signed 'HL 75' (intertwined)
[Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Augustin Cranach

formerly
[Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Production date
about 1582 (1575?)

Production date

about 1582 (1575?)

[Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 118.8 x 85 x 1.7-1.9 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 118.8 x 85 x 1.7-1.9 cm

  • [Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia: 'HL 75', intertwined

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia: 'HL 75', intertwined

  • [Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • on a small plaque, now lost: NICOLEOS IACET HIC RAPTVS SVB FLORE IVVENTAE,
    SEIDLICIA DVCENS NOBILE STEMMA DOMO.
    LEVCOREI …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on a small plaque, now lost:

  • NICOLEOS IACET HIC RAPTVS SVB FLORE IVVENTAE,

  • SEIDLICIA DVCENS NOBILE STEMMA DOMO.

  • LEVCOREI CVLTOR LVDI TRANSLATVS AD ASTRA,

  • DOCTORIS CHRISTI PENDET AB ORE SACRO.

  • QVISQVIS MENTE INHIAT CHRISTI AD COMMERCIA, VITAE

  • TAEDIA PRAESENTIS, SPEMQ[ue] SEQVENTIS HABET.

  • OBIIT 15. SEPTEMBR[is]* ANNO 1582. AETATIS 30.

  • [Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Owner
Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Repository
Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Location
Wittenberg
CDA ID
DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW006
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW006/

Provenance

  • the panel was forgotten about for a long time and is first recorded in the files of the board of public works (Denkmalpflege ) in 1966: then it was located on the pillar next to the altar
  • in 1979 it hung in the choir, on the east side of the east freestanding pillar
  • in 2014 it was moved as a preventative measure to the south wall of the choir
    [Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015 185-190
EditorJan Harasimowicz, Bettina Seyderhelm
TitleCranachs Kirche. Begleitbuch zur Landesausstellung Sachsen-Anhalt Cranach der Jüngere 2015
Place of PublicationMarkkleeberg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Nikolaus von Seidlitz, descendant of a Silesian aristocratic family that owned land in the province of Schweidnitz, came to Wittenberg in 1571 and registered at the university for the summer semester. [..] He later taught in Wittenberg. On the 14 September 1582, after a short illness, he died aged 30 and was buried in the parish church, St Marien. [Harasimowicz, Kulisz in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 185]

  • Epitaph for Nikolaus von Seidlitz: The resurrection and descent into Purgatory, about 1582 (1575?)

Images

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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