Altarpiece of St Kunigunden church [left outer movable wing]: Christ and the 12 Apostles [recto], Scene from the legend of Kunigunde [verso]

Title

[cda 2016]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2016]

The painting is part of a representation that extends over two wings and depicts Christ with the 12 apostles in an interior with a view of a landscape.

Christ and Peter stand at the centre of the group of apostles, both gesticulating energetically. One suggestion is that the scene depicts

The painting is part of a representation that extends over two wings and depicts Christ with the 12 apostles in an interior with a view of a landscape.

Christ and Peter stand at the centre of the group of apostles, both gesticulating energetically. One suggestion is that the scene depicts Christ taking leave of the apostles and the proclamation of Christ's suffering. Another interpretation suggests the calling of Peter.

[http://www.kirchspiel-rochlitzer-land.de/kirchspiel/default/index.php?cat=x_ro&subcat=gebaeude&page=kuni_ausstattung; accessed 30 Mar 2016] (Translation, cda 2016)

Attribution: Master of the Döbeln Altarpiece

Attribution

Master of the Döbeln Altarpiece

[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998, No. 23.6c][Sandner 1993, 101]

Production date: 1513

Production date

1513	[Corpus dated on reverse]

Dimensions: Dimensions including frame: c. 290 x 100 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions including frame: c. 290 x 100 cm
[Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Sachsen, revised 2016]

Signature / Dating

the High Altarpiece is dated '1513' on the reverse of the carved 'Mercy Seat' group

Signature / Dating

- the High Altarpiece is dated '1513' on the reverse of the carved 'Mercy Seat' group
[Sandner 1993, 140]

Owner: Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Rochlitz
Repository: St. Kunigundenkirche Rochlitz
Location: Rochlitz

CDA ID: DE_KKR_NONE-KKR002A
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KKR_NONE-KKR002A/

Connected Works

Provenance

probably commissioned by the town council of Rochlitz in 1506
the completed altarpiece was installed in 1513
[Sandner 1993, 140]

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1998

237

23.6c1

Fig. 23.6c1

Editor	Wartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach, Fachhochschule , Ingo Sandner
Title	Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen. Ausstellungskatalog und Tagungsband Katalogteil 1; 2: Werkstatt und Schüler Cranachs; 3: Süddeutsche Meister; 4: Albrecht Dürer und sein Kreis; 5: Rheinische Meister
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	1998
Pages	229-240

Show Literature

Sandner 1993

101, 140-143, 359

Fig. p. 43, p. 141

Author	Ingo Sandner
Title	Spätgotische Tafelmalerei in Sachsen
Place of Publication	Dresden, Basel
Year of Publication	1993

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

In 1506 the town council of Rochlitz commissioned Philipp Koch's Freiberg based workshop with the High Altarpiece for the Kunigundenkirche. For the painterly execution of the wings the sculptor secured the cooperation of the best available artists. The exterior sides are decorated with scenes from the legend of Kunigunde by an unknown master. The first transition of the altar is of a good painterly quality by the workshops of the Master of the Döbelner Altarpiece and the workshop of the Master of the Oberbobritzsch Altarpiece which in terms of style and forms corresponds with that of the beginning of the Renaissance in Freiberg. Numerous artists working on the panels have brought together something of Cranach's world view, the Franconian culture of painting and forms common to Freiberg.

The interior reveals a central shrine by the workshop of Philipp Koch with a sculptural representation of the patron St Kunigunde and her husband Heinrich II flanked by the Virgin and Child with St Anne and the apostle Thomas. Scenes from the Passion of Christ are arranged either side of the shrine.

[see: Sandner 1993, 140-143] (Translation, cda 2016)

Altarpiece of St Kunigunden church [left outer movable wing]: Christ and the 12 Apostles [recto], Scene from the legend of Kunigunde [verso], 1513

Images

Technical studies

04. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- the initial design may have been executed with a dark, dry drawing material, stylus or dark chalk; during a second stage lines were applied with a brush (with both very and less diluted medium)

Type/Ductus:

- relatively freehand and detailed underdrawing; in sections correcting the initial design

- delicate, fine lines for the initial design; subsequently thin to somewhat broader lines with a brush

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; the lines delineate the main contours, define forms therein and describe facial features; no representation of volume with hatching strokes

Deviations:

- numerous small corrections were made to forms during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Master of the Döbeln High Altarpiece (Valentin Elner?)

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2017]

photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Altarpiece of St Kunigunden church [left outer movable wing]: Christ and the 12 Apostles [recto], Scene from the legend …', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KKR_NONE-KKR002A/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Altarpiece of St Kunigunden church [left outer movable wing]: Christ and the 12 Apostles [recto], Scene from the legend …', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KKR_NONE-KKR002A/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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