Epitaph for Caspar Niemeck: The Adoration of the Shepherds

Title

[cda 2019]

Painting on hardwood

Medium

Painting on hardwood

[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

The central panel from the epitaph for Caspar Niemeck (1517-1562) depicts the Adoration of the Shepherd in stage-like pictorial space. [...] The main scene of the Adoration with the Virgin and Joseph, the ox and the ass, the angels and the shepherds is located within a stable. Here shown as an interior with precisely aligned beams and brickwork, without windows or doors, and revealing a snow covered landscape in the background. The shepherds are visible in the field beyond and listen to the angel descending from heaven. Putti play in the beams of the open roof with transparent broad banners inscribed with Christmas messages. [...] The shepherds enter the quiet scene in the foreground somewhat awkwardly, but wearing festive clothes. [...] In contrast the donors appear slightly stiff. [...] Two painted coats of arms decorate the spandrels of the painted frame: on the left the coat of arms of the Niemeck family with three roses growing from one root. The wife's family could not yet be identified.

[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

Attribution: Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

Production date: 1564

Production date

1564

[dated]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 172 x 120.3 x 2.2-2.7 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 172 x 120.3 x 2.2-2.7 cm
Dimensions including frame: 188 x 136 x 6 cm
[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia beneath the Virgin: serpent with dropped wings facing right and dated '1564'; in yellow paint

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia beneath the Virgin: serpent with dropped wings facing right and dated '1564'; in yellow paint

Inscriptions and Labels

on various banners being attached to the beams by putti: EHRE SEI GOT IN/ DER HOHE
VND FRIDE / …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

- on various banners being attached to the beams by putti:
EHRE SEI GOT IN/ DER HOHE
VND FRIDE / AVFF ERDEN
VND DEN MENSCHE[n] / EIN WOLGEFALEN
- the following inscription was attached below:
'Micheas am V.
Vnd du Bethlehem Ephrata/die du klein bist / vnter den Tausnten in Jda / auß dir sol mir der kommen / der in Israel HErr sey / welches Außgang von Anfang vnd Ewig her gewest ist
Lucas am 11. Cap.
Vnnd der Engel sprach zu den Hirten / Fürchtet euch nicht / Sihe ich verkündige euch grosse Frewde die allem Volck wiederfahren wirdt / denn euch ist heute der Heyland geboren / welcher ist Christus der HErr in der StadtDauid /vnd das habt zum zeichen /Ihr werdet finden das Kind in Windelein gewickelt /vnd iin einer Krippen liegen / etc.'
[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 177]

Owner: Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Repository: Evangelische Stadtkirche St. Marien, Wittenberg
Location: Wittenberg

CDA ID: DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW008
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW008/

Provenance

Niemeck's widow commissioned a memorial [for her husband] in the church, which hung on the third north pillar at the beginning of the seventeenth century.
[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015

173-178

Editor	Jan Harasimowicz, Bettina Seyderhelm
Title	Cranachs Kirche. Begleitbuch zur Landesausstellung Sachsen-Anhalt Cranach der Jüngere 2015
Place of Publication	Markkleeberg
Year of Publication	2015

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The Niemeck family, also called Kellner, was once one of the most important families in Wittenberg. The head of the family, Anton Kellner from the town of Niemegk, was a master builder, and later mayor. […] There are three epitaphs from the Cranach workshop dedicated to the Niemeck family in the parish church of St Marien.

[Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 173]

Epitaph for Caspar Niemeck: The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1564

Images

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Epitaph for Caspar Niemeck: The Adoration of the Shepherds', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW008/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
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