Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden

Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden

Title

Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden

[cda 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Schade 1974, 390]

Christ kneels, facing left in the garden of Gethsemane. His head is framed by a luminous halo and he looks up to the angel of Our Lord who hovers above him with a chalice. At the front edge of the pictorial plane kneel the senior civil servant Otto von Plogk

Christ kneels, facing left in the garden of Gethsemane. His head is framed by a luminous halo and he looks up to the angel of Our Lord who hovers above him with a chalice. At the front edge of the pictorial plane kneel the senior civil servant Otto von Plogk (left) in contemporary armour with his helmet and gloves placed in front of him and his wife (right). When Otto von Plogk died in 1577, his wife Margareta, born Robils, dedicated the Epitaph to him. Both are shown in an attitude of prayer and are flanked by a group of three sleeping disciples: Peter, John and James. The right half of the painting shows a landscape with Judas in the distance, identified by his yellow robe, leading a group of soldiers to arrest Jesus.

The painting is fitted in an elaborate renaissance frame, that links it with another panel depicting the resurrection. In addition to painted ornamentation in the spandrels of the semi-circular top the carved frame displays the coats-of-arms of both families. Two putti are represented in the frieze with a text field above. Beneath the painting there is another, larger text field (see Interpretation/History/Discussion).

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Schuchardt 1851 C, 39]

Production date
1578

Production date

1578

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of visible surface: 161.8 x 131.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of visible surface: 161.8 x 131.5 cm

  • [cda 2015]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the bottom left: winged serpent (very abraded), facing left and dated '1578', in black paint

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the bottom left: winged serpent (very abraded), facing left and dated '1578', in black paint

  • [cda 2015]

Inscriptions and Labels

There is no inscription on the panel, but there are two inscriptions in the text fields on the renaissance …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • There is no inscription on the panel, but there are two inscriptions in the text fields on the renaissance frame: a short inscription above the panel recites the words of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, a larger text field beneath the panel refers to the deceased Otto von Pogk. See Interpretation/History/Discussion for a transcription.

  • [cda 2015]

Owner
Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Coswig
Repository
Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Coswig
Location
Coswig
CDA ID
DE_KC_NONE-KC002a
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KC_NONE-KC002a/

Overall view of the piece
Connected Works

Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [superstructure]: Resurrection of Christ
  • Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [superstructure]: Resurrection of Christ, 1578
  • DE_KC_NONE-KC002b
  • Painting
  • Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Coswig

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Hennen 2016 71-82
AuthorInsa Christiane Hennen
TitleDas Epitaph für Otto von Pogk in der Coswiger Nicolaikirche
Publicationin Elisabeth Rüber-Schütte, ed., Lucas Cranach in Sachsen-Anhalt. Forschungen und Berichte aus der Denkmalpflege
SeriesKleine Hefte zur Denkmalpflege
Volume10
Place of PublicationHalle
Year of Publication2016
Pages71-82
Show Literature
Körber, Himpel, Haselbach 2016 83-93
AuthorAlbrecht Körber, Andrea Himpel, Linda Haselbach
TitleDas Epitaph des Amtshauptmanns Otto von Pogk († 1577) von 1578 in der Stadtkirche St. Nicolai zu Coswig (Anhalt)
Publicationin Elisabeth Rüber-Schütte, ed., Lucas Cranach in Sachsen-Anhalt. Forschungen und Berichte aus der Denkmalpflege.
SeriesKleine Hefte zur Denkmalpflege
Volume10
Place of PublicationHalle
Year of Publication2016
Pages83-93
Show Literature
Rüber-Schütte 2016 71-82, 83-93
EditorElisabeth Rüber-Schütte
TitleLucas Cranach in Sachsen-Anhalt
SeriesKleine Hefte zur Denkmalpflege
Volume10
Place of PublicationHalle
Year of Publication2016
Show Literature
Prasse 2009 20-22 p. 23
AuthorMatthias Prasse
TitleStadtkirche St. Nicolai und ehemaliges Dominikanerinnenkloster in Coswig (Anh.)
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2009
Show Literature
Schulze 2004 178, 209-211 p. 210
AuthorIngrid Schulze
TitleLucas Cranach d. J. und die protestantische Bildkunst in Sachsen und Thüringen. Frömmigkeit, Theologie, Fürstenreformation
Place of PublicationBucha near Jena
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Schade 1974 96, 390
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Schade 1968 B 73-74
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Epitaphbilder Lucas Cranach d. J.
Publicationin Bozena Steinborn, ed., Ze Studiów nad Sztuka XVI Wieku na Slasku i w Krajach Sasiednich(Materialy z konferencji urzadzonej przez Muzeum Slaskie we Wroclaw 10 i 17 grudnia 1966 roku)
Place of PublicationBreslau
Year of Publication1968
Pages63-76
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 39
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The transcriptioin is from a UV light photograph

  • text in the upper text field:

'Mein Vater ists nicht müglich das dieser Kelch von mir gehe ich /

tringke in denn so geschehe dein wille.'

  • text in the lower text field, entitled 'EPITAPHIVM' (on the upper frame member):

'Des Edlenn gestrengenn vnnd Ehrnühesten Otto von Pogk Welcher seines alters Lx Jhar xxx Jahr Anhaldischer Hoffdiener vnd Marschalch xiiii Jhar Heubt[=] /

man Im Ambt Cosswigk gewesenn vnnd alhier auff dem Hause den xiiii Martii Anno 1577 in gott sehliglich entschlaffenn vnnd in dieser Pfarkirchen begraben Des sehle Gott genade: /

Hernach folgen etliche trostspüche domit er sich auff seinem Todtbet getrostet hatt. /

Also hat Gott die Welt geliebet das er seinen einigen Sohn gab, auff das alle die an in gleubenn nicht verloren werdenn, Sondernn das Ewige Leben habenn. Johannis am 3 Capittel: /

Warlich, warlich, Ich sage euch, So iemand mein Wort wirdt halten, der wirdt den Todt nicht sehenn Ewiglich. Johannis am viii Capittel: /

Den das ist ie gewislich war, vnd ein thewer werdes wort, das Cristus Jhesus kommen ist in die Welt, die Sünder sehlig zumachen vnter welchen ich der fürnemest bin. S. Paulus i Thimo: i. /

Das blut Jesu Christi seines Sohnes machet vns rein von aller sünde i Epistel Johannes i Cap: /

Vnd wisset das ihr nicht mit vorgenglichem silber oder golde, erlöset seid sondern mit dem thewern blutt Christi, als eines vnschüldigen vnd vnbeflecten lammes i Pe: i. /

Herr, Wen ich nuhr dich habe so frage Ich nichts nach Himmel vnnd Erden, wen mir gleich leib vnnd sehel vorschmacht, /

so bistu doch Gott altzeit meines hertzen trost vnnd mein theill. Psalm: Lxxiii: /

Hilff du Heilige Dreifaltigkeitt. /

Dieses Gemelde, habe Ich Margaretha Robils, Otto von Pogks seligen /

hinderlassene Witfraw, meinem lieben Man, Zu ehren vnnd /

gedechtnus auff mein eigne vnkosten, vorfer= /

tigenn vnnd setzen lassenn:'

On the bottom of the lower text field is a depction of a pelican, cutting its chest, to feed its hatchlings with its blood. Main parts of the depiction are abraded but visible in UV light.

[Görres, cda 2015]

  • Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden, 1578

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

03. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr
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Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- dry drawing material (dark chalk) combined with a fluid black medium (brush and possibly also quill for some of the facial features)

Type/Ductus:

- relatively detailed freehand underdrawing

- fine chalk lines (some of the facial features may have been executed employing a quill); combined with broader brushed lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define essential details and facial features; no representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; some changes

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger and workshop?

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2015]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

03. 2009Technical Examination

Framing

The painting is fitted in the original aedicule-like frame. There is a frieze with a text field over which a panel depicting the Resurrection is positioned. Carved figures in the forms of an atlas (left) and a caryatide (right) flank the scene in the olive grove. At the bottom of the frame there is a larger text field.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Condition Reports

Date10.12.2003

  • exit holes, c. 100 holes

  • woodworm damage, particularly in the right third of the panel (area of sapwood)

  • very old and slightly brown varnish with some disturbing cloudy zones

  • prominant streaks above the left cross-member of the frame

  • the paint layers are in very good conditions

  • some flaking along the bottom edge of the painting and along the right profile

[Conservation report, Albrecht Köhler, 10. Dez. 2003]

  • examined by Albrecht Körber

Conservation History

Date10.12.2003

Treatment proposal:

Close inspection showed the painting to be good condition. Even the streaky surface appearance is not so apparent. Therefore only necessary conservation treatment like surface cleaning and consolidation of the paint layers should be carried out. Small losses along the bottom edge should be filled and retouched. Filling and retouching of exit holes is not absolutely necessary. [...]

Treatment:

  • surface cleaning

  • small areas of flaking consolidated

  • exit holes filled, c. 100

  • exit holes retouched, c. 100

[Conservation Report, Albrecht Köhler, 10. Dec. 2003]

  • conservation treatment by Albrecht Körber

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KC_NONE-KC002a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Epitaph for Otto of Pogk [centre scene]: Agony in the Garden', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KC_NONE-KC002a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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