Christ Blessing the Children

Christ Blessing the Children

Title

Christ Blessing the Children

[cda 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[http://service.uni-leipzig.de/eMP/eMuseumPlus; 03.2015]

This horizontal format painting is a so-called 'protestant teaching image (Lehrbild)', based on the biblical text: Mark 10, 13-16. Although by virtue of the date 1545 this painting is considered a late version it has the best painterly quality of the series. It is thought that Lucas Cranach the Younger

This horizontal format painting is a so-called 'protestant teaching image (Lehrbild)', based on the biblical text: Mark 10, 13-16. Although by virtue of the date 1545 this painting is considered a late version it has the best painterly quality of the series. It is thought that Lucas Cranach the Younger may also have worked on the series. As a broadly arranged group picture against a dark background this painting depicts Christ surrounded by women with their children, the protestant apostles are inserted behind at the left. The artist focuses on the tender affection between Christ and the children. At the same time it depicts a multifaceted exploration of the mother-child relationship. The figures are shown knee-length. Scholars associate the work with Luther's endorsement of the baptism of children in opposition to the baptism solely of adults for which Thomas Münzer among others made propaganda.

[http://service.uni-leipzig.de/eMP/eMuseumPlus; 03.2015]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder (and workshop)
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder (and workshop)

[cda 2015]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

'in collaboration with Lucas Cranach the Younger'
[http://service.uni-leipzig.de/eMP/eMuseumPlus; 03.2015]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

'more likely L. Cranach the Younger'
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, 142, No. 362D]

Production date
1545

Production date

1545

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 71.4 x 120.5 x 1.7 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 71.4 x 120.5 x 1.7 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 94.5 x 142.2 x 10 cm

  • [Kunstsammlung der Universität Leipzig; revised 2015]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the lower edge: winged serpent and dated '1545'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the lower edge: winged serpent and dated '1545'

  • [http://service.uni-leipzig.de/eMP/eMuseumPlus; 03.2015]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • at the lower edge: 'VND SIE BRACHTEN KINDLIN ZU IM DAS ER SIE ANRÜRETE. MAR. X.'

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • at the lower edge:

  • 'VND SIE BRACHTEN KINDLIN ZU IM DAS ER SIE ANRÜRETE. MAR. X.'

Owner
Kunstsammlung der Universität Leipzig
Repository
Kunstsammlung der Universität Leipzig
Location
Leipzig
CDA ID
DE_KSUL_0037-90
FR (1978) Nr.
FR362D
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSUL_0037-90/

Provenance

  • it was exhibited in the university church St Pauli
  • although nothing is known about how the painting was acquired the chronological coincidence that it coincided with the consecration of the university church by Martin Luther in 1545 is striking

[http://service.uni-leipzig.de/eMP/eMuseumPlus; 03.2015]

Exhibitions

Weimar 1972, Cat.-No. 75

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005 96 (English version 38) under no. 20
EditorObrazárna Pražského hradu, Kaliopi Chamonikola
TitlePod znamením okrídleného hada. Lucas Cranach a ceské zeme. Under the winged Serpent. Lucas Cranach and the Czech Land
Place of PublicationPrague
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Sandner 1998 A 60
AuthorIngo Sandner
TitleZeichengeräte um 1500
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, eds., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages51-60
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 142 No. 362D
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 291d
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
  • Christ Blessing the Children, 1545

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

03. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2016]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSUL_0037-90/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSUL_0037-90/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.