Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony

Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony

Title

Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony

[CDA 2010]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 152]
[Klein report 03.03.2016]

The pendant piece of this portrait is the Coburg Portrait of Johann the Steadfast (Inv. No. M165). The half-length portait depicts the elector of Saxony Friedrich the Wise, facing right. In this posthumous portrait the elector is shown in three-quarters profile against a blue background in simple dress. He wears

The pendant piece of this portrait is the Coburg Portrait of Johann the Steadfast (Inv. No. M165). The half-length portait depicts the elector of Saxony Friedrich the Wise, facing right. In this posthumous portrait the elector is shown in three-quarters profile against a blue background in simple dress. He wears a white shirt buttoned up to the neck, a black doublet with a round neckline, an overcoat with a fur collar and a black beret. The elector's signet ring on his index finger is the only symbol of dignity. His hands are in the lower part of the image, which is black. There is a piece of paper attached to the bottom with an eight line rhyming text block that records the sitter's name, position and life.

[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 152]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 152]

Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

Production date
1532

Production date

1532

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 61.7 x 38.2 x 0.6 cm (original panel)/ 1.9 cm (including auxiliary support)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 61.7 x 38.2 x 0.6 cm (original panel)/ 1.9 cm (including auxiliary support)

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

  • Dimensions of support: 61.3 x 38.3 cm

  • [Maedebach, Exhib. Cat. Coburg 1972, No. 20]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the left edge above the sitter's shoulder: winged serpent and dated '1532'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the left edge above the sitter's shoulder: winged serpent and dated '1532'

  • [Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]

Inscriptions and Labels

an eight line text printed on paper:
'Friderich der drit /Churfurst
Und Herzog zu Sachssen

Fridrich bin ich billig genant …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • an eight line text printed on paper:

  • 'Friderich der drit /Churfurst

  • Und Herzog zu Sachssen

  • Fridrich bin ich billig genant /

  • Schönen fried ich erhielt im land. /

  • Durch gros vernunfft / gedult vnd glück /

  • Widder manchen erzbösen tück.

  • Das land ich zieret mit gebew /

  • Und stifft ein hohe Schul auffs new

  • Zu wittemberg im Sachssen land

  • Inn der welt die waard bekand /

  • Denn aus der selb kam Gottes wort

  • Und tehr gros ding an manchem ort.

  • Das Bepstlich Reich schlagt es nider /

  • Und bracht rechten glauben widder.

  • Zum Kaisar ward erkorn ich /

  • Des mein alter beschweret sich.

  • Dafür ich Kaisar Carl ernant

  • Von dem mich nicht wandt'

  • Probably 18th century

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse: - adhesive label KVC

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

Owner
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Repository
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Location
Coburg
CDA ID
DE_KSVC_M164
FR (1978) Nr.
FR338C
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M164/

Connected Works

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony
  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, 1532
  • DE_KSVC_M165
  • Painting
  • Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen

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)
  • 1921 displayed in the Ducal Palace (Fürstenbau), Coburg
  • April 1945 until August 1947 transferred to the monastery Banz
    [Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

Exhibitions

Coburg 1972, 2f., no. 20
Coburg 2010, no. 166

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 122, 148, 150, 152, 153 27 Pl. p. 150
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, 15, 18, 20
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. Coburg 2010 152-153 No. 1.1.19 Fig. 1.1.19
EditorLWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster, Klaus Weschenfelder, Beate Böckum, Ruth Hansmann, Matthias Müller
TitleApelles am Fürstenhof, Facetten der Hofkunst um 1500 im Alten Reich
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Braunfels, Eissenhauer 1996 42 Fig. p. 43
EditorVeronika Braunfels, Michael Eissenhauer
TitleMit Luther durch die Kunstsammlungen. Ein Führer zu den Luther-Zeugnissen in den Sammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationSchweinfurt
Year of Publication1996
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 137 No. 338C
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Coburg 1972 No. 20
EditorHeino Maedebach
TitleGraphik aus dem Kupferstichkabinett der Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg. Beiheft: Lucas Cranach d. Ae. und seine Werkstatt: Gemälde
Place of PublicationCoburg
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 79 272 (Appendix)
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
  • Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony, 1532

Images

Compare images
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Documents

Technical studies

2018Technical Examination

Support

- limewood

- four horizontally aligned boards with butt joints: I: 16 cm; II: 18cm; III: 11 cm; IV (probably added later): 16.7 cm

Ground and Imprimatura

- chalk ground

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

03.03.2016Scientific analysis

  • Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

Identification of wood species: limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Klein report, 03.03.2016]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

Condition Reports

Date2018

Support:

  • laminated to an oak panel; two horizontal beech wood batten inserts. A strip of paper runs around the edge of the panel. The bottom plank (IV) was probably added to the portrait later.

Paint layers:

  • numerous old fills are visible. These are probably open woodworm channels just below the painted surface, that have been filled and retouched. The fur-trimming on the coat ends rather abruptly at the joint between the III and IV planks. The added plank has been painted and a sheet of paper from the 18th century with a printed inscription has been glued to it.

Varnish:

  • the painting has a glossy resin varnish, which was probably applied repeatedly with a brush. The strong fluorescence of this layer restricts the identification of retouches under UV light to a few relatively recent ones.

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 148]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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<author's name>, 'Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M164/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
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