Katharina of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Saxony (1487-1561)

Katharina of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Saxony (1487-1561)

Titles

Katharina of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Saxony (1487-1561)

[CDA 2010]

Sibylle of Cleve, Duchess of Saxony in old age

[Exhib. Cat. Erfurt 1903, No. 89]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]
[Klein report 03.03.2016]

The sitter is shown as a half-length figure, facing right against a dark blue background. She is wearing a black dress with white sleeves. Numerous brocade bands are tied around the voluminous material to divide it into segments. She has two chokers, a chain and a large amulet with the

The sitter is shown as a half-length figure, facing right against a dark blue background. She is wearing a black dress with white sleeves. Numerous brocade bands are tied around the voluminous material to divide it into segments. She has two chokers, a chain and a large amulet with the linked letters MK around her neck. Her hair is covered with a gold and silver checked hairnet visible under the broad brimmed hat. It has a brocade patterning and small charms (an anchor, an hourglass, a mug, a ship, a book(?), a horn) dangle from its rim.

[Görres, cda 2016]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Lucas Cranach der Ältere

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 429]

Lucas Cranach der Ältere

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Production dates
about 1530 - 1535
1547

Production dates

about 1530 - 1535

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

1547

A date formerly on the painting [Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]
'?' [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 429]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 54 x 38.5 x 1 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 54 x 38.5 x 1 cm

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels

none Reverse: - label: HKA
[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse: - label: HKA

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Owner
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Repository
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Location
Coburg
CDA ID
DE_KSVC_M036
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M036/

Provenance

  • Gotha, Art Cabinet, Friedenstein castle, Picture Gallery
  • 1856 Ducal Art and Antiquities Collection, Coburg (Herzogliche Kunst- und Altertümersammlung der Veste Coburg (HKA))
  • 1919 Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg (KVC)
    [Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Exhibitions

Erfurt 1903, no. 89
Stuttgart 2007

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 136-138, 140, 141 24 Pl. p. 137, Fig. 1
AuthorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleCranach in Coburg. Gemälde von Lucas Cranach d.Ä., Lucas Cranach d.J., der Werkstatt und des Umkreises in den Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2018
Show Literature
Weschenfelder 2018 A 14, 18
AuthorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleCranach in Coburg.
Publicationin Klaus Weschenfelder, ed., Cranach in Coburg. Gemälde von Lucas Cranach d.Ä., Lucas Cranach d.J., der Werkstatt und des Umkreises in den Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2018
Pages7-23
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Stuttgart 2007 406 Fig. p. 120
AuthorDaniel Sponke
EditorMarion Ackermann, Kunstmuseum, Stuttgart
TitleGetroffen. Otto Dix und die Kunst des Porträts
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 429, 430 Fig. 190
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Widmaier-Picasso 2005 68
AuthorDiana Widmaier-Picasso
TitlePicasso und Cranach der Ältere. Kunst als Lebenskraft
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, ed., Cranach. Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages64-77
Show Literature
Zimmermann E. H. 1969 286, 288 Fig. 6
AuthorErnst Heinrich Zimmermann
TitleZur Ikonographie von Damenbildnissen des älteren und des jüngeren Lucas Cranach
JournalPantheon
IssueXXVII, 4
Year of Publication1969
Pages283-293
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Erfurt 1903 089
EditorOskar Doering
TitleKatalog der kunstgeschichtlichen Ausstellung zu Erfurt, September 1903
Place of PublicationMagdeburg
Year of Publication1903
Link https://archive.org/details/katalogderkunstg00ange/page/n1/mode/2up
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1871 139 18
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Dritter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1871
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1871bd3
Show Literature
  • Katharina of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Saxony (1487-1561), about 1530 - 1535

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

2018Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

- beech wood

- two horizontally aligned planks. Plank I: 24 cm; plank II: 30 cm.

- the panel was probably originally fitted in a grooved frame

- the reverse of the panel exhibits toolmarks from a blockplane

- the horizontal join is reinforced with glue soaked tow

- Dendrochronology: the following annual rings were recorded and measured: plank I: 126 annual rings, 1520-1395; plank II: 178 annual rings, 1521-1344. Generally with beech wood the entire section was used and only the bark was removed, therefore a felling date of 1521 can be estimated. The wood was then seasoned for at least two years and could have been used from 1523 (Klein 2016).

Ground and Imprimatura

- chalk ground

Paint Layers and Gilding

- traces of gold along the edge of the panel suggest that the original frame was guilded with the painting fitted in it

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

03.03.2016Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

Identification of wood species: beech wood

Dendrochronology: plank I 126 annual rings 1520 - 1395; plank II 178 annual rings 1521 - 1344

The youngest annual ring is from 1521.

[Klein report, 03.03.2016]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

09. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools / Materials:

- dark, fluid medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- the underdrawing is barely visible; freehand

- thin, long and unbroken lines where visible

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process: sitter’s sleeve

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Condition Reports

Date2018

Support:

  • trimmed

  • inactive woodworm damage with open channels, particularly along the edges

  • the horizontal join has been reinforced with four small balsa wood battens

  • the chamfer necessary to slot the panel into the present grooved frame was more recently increased in width to c. 4.5 cm.

  • the reverse has been stained a reddish-brown tone

Paint layers:

  • some craquelé and various small retouches, rough old fill at the top left, probably after paint loss

Varnish:

  • repeated application of a glossy varnish

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 136]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Katharina of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Saxony (1487-1561)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M036/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
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