Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Title

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

[cda 2019]

Painting on wood (beech?)

Medium

Painting on wood (beech?)

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, no. 11]

The reformer is shown here as a half-length figure, facing left against a light blue background. He is wearing a black academic gown with a high collar. The c. 35 year old has a sparse beard and brown curly hair frames his high forehead. His hands are folded in front

The reformer is shown here as a half-length figure, facing left against a light blue background. He is wearing a black academic gown with a high collar. The c. 35 year old has a sparse beard and brown curly hair frames his high forehead. His hands are folded in front of his chest.

[see: Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75, No. 11]

Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, No. 11]

Production dates
about 1532 - 1550
1535

Production dates

about 1532 - 1550

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, no. 11]

1535

[dated, not genuine]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 19.6 x 14.2 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 19.6 x 14.2 cm

  • [Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, No. 11]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia right edge above the sitter's shoulder: serpent with dropped wings (probably not genuine) and dated '1535' (not genuine)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia right edge above the sitter's shoulder: serpent with dropped wings (probably not genuine) and dated '1535' (not genuine)

  • [Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, no. 11]

Inscriptions and Labels

on the reverse: - damaged, printed adhesive label: 'LUCAS CRANACH. / 1472-1553 / [D]as Porträt Philipp Melanchthons. Brustbild …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • on the reverse: - damaged, printed adhesive label: 'LUCAS CRANACH. / 1472-1553 / [D]as Porträt Philipp Melanchthons. Brustbild in schwarzem Talar / [m]it gefalteten Händen. Höchst feines charakteristisches Porträt / [r]echts auf blauem Grunde 1535 und der Drache. / H.20 cm, B. 14 cm. G.-R. Siehe Reproduktion auf Tafel[l] V.' (cutting from a book), handwritten at the top right in blue '5006'

  • [Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, no. 11]

Owner
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Repository
Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel
Location
Wolfenbüttel
CDA ID
DE_HABW_NONE-HABW001
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HABW_NONE-HABW001/

Provenance

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012 75-77 No. 11 Figs. 11-11.2
AuthorMichael Wenzel
TitleDie Gemälde der Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel
Place of PublicationWiesbaden
Year of Publication2012
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The date and presumably also the signature are considerably later additions. Both appear clumsy and are located – the date clearly, the signature less so – above the craquelé. Nevertheless it apears that the fake date and signature were applied to a work produced in the Cranach workshop.

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, no. 11]

  • Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon, about 1532 - 1550

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse

Technical studies

Support

- the panel is chamfered at the sides and warped with numerous remnants of protective coatings

Framing

- unframed

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, No. 11]

Condition Reports

Date28.03.2019 -

  • numerous long, diagonal scratches in the area of the gown

  • particularly pronounced vertical crack formation

  • spots of dirt and stains

[Cat. Wolfenbüttel 2012, 75-77, No. 11]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HABW_NONE-HABW001/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_HABW_NONE-HABW001/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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