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 fir

Medium

Painting on fir

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]
[Klein report 03.03.2016]

Painting on softwood

[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 166]
[Maedebach, Exhib. Cat. Coburg 1972, No. 16]

Half-length portrait, facing right. The sitter is praying.

[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]
[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 166]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Kronach, Leipzig 1994, 315]

Production dates
about 1515
about 1513

Production dates

about 1515

[Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 166]

about 1513

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 64.4 x 48 x 0.3 cm (original panel/1.9 cm (including auxillary support)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 64.4 x 48 x 0.3 cm (original panel/1.9 cm (including auxillary support)

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

  • Dimensions of support: 64 x 48 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010, 166]

  • Dimensions of support: 64.4 x 48.7 cm

  • [Maedebach, Exhib. Cat. Coburg 1972, No. 16]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels

none Reverse: - handwritten 'M. 166'
[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse: - handwritten 'M. 166'

  • [Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

Owner
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Repository
Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Location
Coburg
CDA ID
DE_KSVC_M166
FR (1978) Nr.
FR064B
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M166/

Connected Works

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony
  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, about 1515
  • DE_KSVC_M167
  • Painting
  • Veste Coburg Kunstsammlungen
Bust portrait of the apostles Jude Thaddeus and Simon
  • Bust portrait of the apostles Jude Thaddeus and Simon, about 1515
  • DE_SHSCGF_XI300
  • Painting
  • Stiftung der Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha'schen Familie
Bust portrait of the apostles James the Greater and Andrew
  • Bust portrait of the apostles James the Greater and Andrew, about 1515
  • DE_SHSCGF_XI70
  • Painting
  • Stiftung der Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha'schen Familie

Provenance

  • probably from an altarpiece, which was formerly in the church of St Moritz zu Coburg
    [Maedebach, Cat. Coburg 1969]
  • ducal property, Coburg
  • 1876 Ducal Art and Antiquities Collection, Coburg (Herzogliche Kunst- und Altertümersammlung der Veste Coburg (HKA))
  • 1919 Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg (KVC)
  • 1921 displayed in the residential quarters of the Ducal Palace (Fürstenbau), Coburg
    [Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

Exhibitions

Coburg 1967, No. 57
Coburg 1972, No. 16
Kronach, Leipzig 1994, 315-317, No. 135
Frankfurt, London, 2007, 172, No. 28, 29
Coburg, Berlin 2010, 166

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 118-120, 122-128 21 Fig. p. 120, Figs. 1, 4
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 13, 14, 18, 20, 23
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
Müller 2015 276
AuthorMatthias Müller
TitleWiederkehr der Mimesis. Die höfische Porträtmalerei Lucas Cranachs des Jüngeren nach 1550 als paradigmatische Neuausrichtung des 'Cranach-Stils'
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages266-279
Show Literature
Malherbe 2011 2 Fig. p. 23
AuthorAnne Malherbe
TitleLucas Cranach - Peindre la grâce
Place of PublicationGarches
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010 166-167 No. 1.2.02 Fig. 1.2.02
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
Müller 2010 60, 61 Fig. 3
AuthorMatthias Müller
Title"Menschen so zu malen, daß sie erkannt werden und zu leben scheinen" Naturnachahmung als Problem in Lucas Cranachs höfischer Porträtmalerei
Publicationin Matthias Müller, ed., Apelles am Fürstenhof. Facetten der Hofkunst um 1500 im Alten Reich Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2010
Pages57-73
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007 172-173 28 pp. 172, 173
EditorBodo Brinkmann
TitleCranach der Ältere, [Frankfurt, Städel Museum, 23 Nov 2007 - 17 Feb 2008]
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2007 A 69, 219, 301
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich
TitleLucas Cranach the Elder
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
Year of Publication2007
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/6116/2097/3099/Heydenreich_2007_Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder.pdf
Show Literature
Cat. Coburg 2004 32
AuthorMichael Eckstein
EditorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleKunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg. Die Schausammlung
Place of PublicationMunich, Berlin
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Hambrecht 1995 359
AuthorRainer Hambrecht
TitleLukas Cranach d. Ältere und Coburg. Revision des Forschungsstandes und neue Erkenntnisse
Publicationin S. Oehmig, ed., 700 Jahre Wittenberg. Stadt, Universität, Reformation
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1995
Pages349-364
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994 314-317 135c Fig. 135c
EditorClaus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken [Festung Rosenberg, Kronach 17.05 - 21.08.1994; Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig 07.09 - 06.11.1994]
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 83 No. 64B
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. 16
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
Cat. Coburg 1969 No. 57
AuthorHeino Maedebach
EditorLWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster
TitleKunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg. Ausgewählte Werke
SeriesKataloge der Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Volume1
Place of PublicationCoburg
Year of Publication1969
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Coburg 1967 057
EditorLWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, Münster, Heino Maedebach
TitleMartin Luther 1517-1967. Ausstellung zur Erinnerung an die 95 Thesen Martin Luthers vom Jahre 1517
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1967
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 41 57
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
Voss, Lehfeldt 1907 539
AuthorPaul Lehfeldt, Georg Voss
TitleBau- und Kunst-Denkmäler Thüringens. Herzogthum Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha; Amtsgerichtsbezirke Neustadt, Rodach, Sonnefeld, Königsberg, Coburg
SeriesBau- und Kunstdenkmäler Thüringens
VolumeIV
Place of PublicationJena
Year of Publication1907
Show Literature
Friedländer 1905 10 Plate 12
AuthorMax J. Friedländer
TitleDie Tafelmalerei des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts
Publicationin Oscar Döring, Georg Voss, eds., Meisterwerke der Kunst aus Sachsen und Thüringen
Place of PublicationMagdeburg
Year of Publication1905
Pages3-18
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Erfurt 1903 17 093
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
Lehfeldt 1900 162ff. No. 11
AuthorPaul Lehfeldt
TitleÜber zwei Gemälde im Stadtschloß bezw. auf der Veste Coburg
JournalKunstchronik
IssueNF., XI, Jg., 1900
Year of Publication1900
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

'The Coburg fragments constitute the lower half of the separated inner sides of two altar wings, from which the top third of each outer side is also preserved (Herzoglicher Kunstbesitz Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, Schloss Callenberg, Coburg). The latter show the busts of the apostles Simon and Judas as well as James the Elder and Andrew in pairs. These were originally full-length figures. Their calves and feet were once visible on the reverse of the panel and only fell victim to a restoration in the 20th century. It is certain that the dukes as half-length figures only occupied the lower halves of the wings, and may originally have been towered over by a patron saint positioned behind them, who interceded for them with the figures on the central panel. The black background appears to have been renewed.'

[Brinkmann, Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007, 172]

with Figs. of the reconstruction of the altar both closed and open

  • Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony, about 1515

Images

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

Documents

Technical studies

2018Technical Examination

Support

- fir

- four vertically aligned and butt-joined planks. planks I and II: 24 cm; plank III: 15 cm; plank IV: 9 cm

Ground and Imprimatura

- chalk ground

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

03.03.2016Scientific analysis

  • Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Support

Identification of wood species: fir (Abies sp.).

[Klein report, 03.03.2016]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

09. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2010Technical Examination

Framing

- new frame: 20th century, Fa. Pfefferle, Munich

[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]

Condition Reports

Date2018

Support:

  • cropped on all four sides. Mounted on blockboard

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 new ones.

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

Date2010

  • thinned (separated) and laminated onto a blockboard

[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]

Conservation History

Date1994

Conservation treatment

[Cat. Coburg 2018, 118]

  • conservation treatment by Jürgen Holstein

Date04. 1961 - 18.11.1961

[Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, revised 2010]

  • conservation treatment by Richard Harzenetter

Versions

Altarpiece of the Virgin, or so-called Princes' Altarpiece [left wing]
  • Altarpiece of the Virgin, or so-called Princes' Altarpiece [left wing], about 1510
  • DE_AGGD_7a
  • Painting
  • Anhaltische Gemälde-Galerie, Dessau
The Elector Frederic the Wise of Saxony (1463-1525) with the Saints Ursula (left) and Genevieve (right)
  • The Elector Frederic the Wise of Saxony (1463-1525) with the Saints Ursula (left) and Genevieve (right), about 1510 - 1512
  • DK_SMK_KMSsp730
  • Painting
  • Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<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_M166/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_KSVC_M166/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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