Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Title

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

[Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, No. 2/16]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16]

These pendant portraits unite the representations of Luther and Melanchthon in old age. Although the reformers face each other they gaze into the far distance. Luther is shown as higher ranking: he is on the heraldic right side occupying more of the pictorial plane and as such towers over Melanchthon.

These pendant portraits unite the representations of Luther and Melanchthon in old age. Although the reformers face each other they gaze into the far distance. Luther is shown as higher ranking: he is on the heraldic right side occupying more of the pictorial plane and as such towers over Melanchthon. Both are placed in front of a neutral background and each appears to offer the viewer an open book over a stone balustrade.

[Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, No. 2/15] (Translation, cda 2016)

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16]

Production date
1562

Production date

1562

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 54 x 44 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 54 x 44 cm

  • [Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia right: serpent with dropped wings, facing left, in black paint and date '1562'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia right: serpent with dropped wings, facing left, in black paint and date '1562'

  • [cda 2016]

Inscriptions and Labels

Whereas Luther the translator of the bible shows a quotation in German, the book belonging to Melanchthon the philosopher …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • Whereas Luther the translator of the bible shows a quotation in German, the book belonging to Melanchthon the philosopher of Greek and Latin contains a Latin one (Rom 10, 10-12), which underlines the similarities between the jewish and greek faith: 'For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved. The scripture says, "Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed." This includes everyone, because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him.'

  • [Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16] (Translation, cda 2016)

Owner
Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde Nienstedten, Hamburg
Repository
Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde Nienstedten, Hamburg
Location
Hamburg
CDA ID
DE_KNH_NONE-002
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KNH_NONE-002/

Connected Works

Portrait of Martin Luther
  • Portrait of Martin Luther, 1562
  • DE_KNH_NONE-001
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde Nienstedten, Hamburg

Provenance

  • bequest from a private collection
    [Susanne Wegmann, in Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16]

Exhibitions

Wittenberg 2015, no. 2/16

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015 248-249 2/16
EditorRoland Enke, Jutta Strehle, Katja Schneider
TitleLucas Cranach der Jüngere - Entdeckung eines Meisters, Stiftung Luthergedenkstätten in Sachsen-Anhalt, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Augusteum, 26 June - 1 November 2015
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

For further information see also: [Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde Nienstedten online, accessed 12.03.2024]

  • Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon, 1562

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

10. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- dark dry drawing material, stylus or dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- economic underdrawing; copied or traced

- delicate fine lines

- finger print above the sitter's proper left shoulder

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:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger or workshop

[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>, '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_KNH_NONE-002/ (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_KNH_NONE-002/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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