Altarpiece of the Virgin [outer movable wing, right]: St Catherine [recto]; Angel of the Annunciation [verso]

Title

[cda 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2015]

Recto: The saint is shown as a full-length figure positioned under an arch with renaissance ornamentation. This architectural element is repeated on all the panels open at this stage. She is turned to the centre and wears an elaborate red dress with brocade edging. She holds the wheel of martyrdom

Verso: The panel is part of an annunciation scene that extends over the two central panels when the altarpiece is closed. The curly-headed angel enters the Virgin's chamber from the right and raises his finger in blessing. The first Latin words of greeting are written on a sheet in his left hand. This is visible upside-down for the viewer. The long textile bands of a curtain and the Virgin's robe visible on the left panel of the annunciation scene extend over this panel and link both panels to a unit.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attributions: Master of the Mass of St Gregory
Simon Franck

Attributions

Master of the Mass of St Gregory	[Emmendörffer 1998, 218][Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, no. Sup6A]
Simon Franck	[Matauschek 2016, 108] [Krause 2013, 29] [Kramer 2012, 7] [Tacke 1992, 47-56]
Hans Cranach	[Flechsig 1900 A, 281]

Production date: 1529

Production date

1529	[dated on second movable wing on the left]

Dimensions: Dimensions of painted surface: 270.5 x 100.8/101 cm (recto/verso)

Dimensions

Dimensions of painted surface: 270.5 x 100.8/101 cm (recto/verso)
Dimensions including frame: 285 x 114/144.2 cm (recto/verso)
[Heydenreich, cda 2015]

Signature / Dating: None

Inscriptions and Labels: Recto, in the halo:
'SANCTA CATHARINA'
Verso, in the halo: 'SANCTUS GABRIEL'
On the sheet of paper:
'AVE GRATIA

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

Recto, in the halo:
'SANCTA CATHARINA'
Verso, in the halo:
'SANCTUS GABRIEL'
On the sheet of paper:
'AVE GRATIA
PLENA DOMI
NVS TECVM'
[Görres, cda 2015]

Owner: Evangelische Marktkirchengemeinde Halle
Repository: Evangelische Marktkirchengemeinde Halle
Location: Halle

CDA ID: DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001e
FR (1978) Nr.: FRSup006A
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001e/

Connected Works

Provenance

the panel is dated 1529, but its early history still remains uncertain: it may initially have been installed in the Collegiate Church (Stiftskirche) in Halle before being moved slightly later to the Marktkirche. The exact date remains a matter of debate.
according to an entry in the account books the altarpiece was already in place in the Marktkirche by 1540.
in 1841 it was dismantled and replaced by the so-called Hübner-Altar; the panels were then displayed in the church as single units and the original frame was lost.
in 1942 during the WW2 the altarpiece was evacuated to Niemberg
in 1943 the predella was transferred to Petersberg
in 1945 the predella was transferred to Wiesbaden
in 1948 the altarpiece (excluding the predella) was returned to the Marktkirche
the predella was returned in 1961
in 1984 the altarpiece was finally installed in its present position after a burst pipe in the church ocasioned comprehensive renovation and conservation
[Matauschek 2016, 109, 110]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1899, No. 102

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Matauschek 2016

Author	Katja Matauschek
Title	Das Marienretabel in der Marktkirche Halle (Saale)
Publication	in Elisabeth Rüber-Schütte, ed., Lucas Cranach in Sachsen-Anhalt. Forschungen und Berichte aus der Denkmalpflege
Series	Kleine Hefte zur Denkmalpflege
Volume	10
Place of Publication	Halle
Year of Publication	2016
Pages	94-123

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Rüber-Schütte 2016

95-123

Editor	Elisabeth Rüber-Schütte
Title	Lucas Cranach in Sachsen-Anhalt
Series	Kleine Hefte zur Denkmalpflege
Volume	10
Place of Publication	Halle
Year of Publication	2016

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Tacke 2015

Author	Andreas Tacke
Title	Gleich dem Kaninchen vor der Schlange? Altgläubige und die Wittenberger Bildpropaganda.
Publication	in Julia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha and Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, eds., Bild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel]
Place of Publication	Heidelberg
Year of Publication	2015
Pages	82-90

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Kramer 2012

Editor	Sabine Kramer
Title	Der Marienaltar in der Marktkirche zu Halle. Bildprogramm und Geschichte
Place of Publication	Halle
Year of Publication	2012

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Heydenreich 2007 B

39-40

Author	Gunnar Heydenreich
Title	"... dass Du mit wunderbarer Schnelligkeit malest". Virtuosität und Effizienz in der künstlerischen Praxis Lucas Cranachs d. Ä.
Publication	in Bodo Brinkmann, ed., Cranach der Ältere, Exhib. Cat. FrankfurtA
Place of Publication	Ostfildern
Year of Publication	2007
Pages	29-47

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Tacke 2007 C

81, 82, 84

Author	Andreas Tacke
Title	Mit Cranachs Hilfe: Antireformatorische Kunstwerke vor dem Tridentiner Konzil
Publication	in Bodo Brinkmann, ed., Cranach der Ältere, [Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt am Main]
Place of Publication	Ostfildern
Year of Publication	2007
Link	http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/volltexte/2012/2000
Pages	81-89

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Exhib. Cat. Halle 2006

30, 31

Fig. 7

Editor	Thomas Schauerte
Title	Der Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg. Renaissancefürst und Mäzen. Bd. 1: Katalog
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2006

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Smith 2006

28, 30, 31

Fig. 7

Author	Jeffrey Chipps Smith
Title	Die Kunst des Scheiterns
Publication	in Thomas Schauerte, ed., Der Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg. Renaissancefürst und Mäzen. Bd. 1: Katalog
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2006

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Exhib. Cat. Prague 2005

66, 116 (English version 29, 44, 45)

under nos. 8, 30

Editor	Obrazárna Pražského hradu, Kaliopi Chamonikola
Title	Pod znamením okrídleného hada. Lucas Cranach a ceské zeme. Under the winged Serpent. Lucas Cranach and the Czech Land
Place of Publication	Prague
Year of Publication	2005

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Emmendörffer 1998

218

Author	Christoph Emmendörffer
Title	Die selbständigen Cranachschüler
Publication	in Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, eds., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	1998
Pages	203-228

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Tacke 1992

47-56

19-23

Author	Andreas Tacke
Title	Der katholische Cranach. Zu zwei Großaufträgen von Lucas Cranach d. Ä., Simon Franck und der Cranach-Werkstatt (1520 - 1540)
Series	Berliner Schriften zur Kunst
Volume	2
Place of Publication	Mainz
Year of Publication	1992

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Flechsig 1900 A

131

Author	Eduard Flechsig
Title	Cranachstudien
Volume	1
Place of Publication	Leipzig
Year of Publication	1900
Link	page/n5/mode/2up

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Altarpiece of the Virgin [outer movable wing, right]: St Catherine [recto]; Angel of the Annunciation [verso], 1529

Images

Technical studies

1994 - Technical Examination

Framing

The frame with an inserted gilded profile is not original, but possibly 19th century

examined by Gunnar Heydenreich

Condition Reports

Date2016

The condition of the altarpiece varies considerably from panel to panel. The wing panels painted on both sides appear to be less problematical. Many of the panels transferred to new supports exhibit more recent damage (paint loss and tenting).

See [Matauschek 2016, 116-118] for a full report.

Date1967

Description of the damage caused by the burst pipe

[Matauschek 2016, 114, 115]

Date1949

report of condition after return from Niemberg; first mention of loss in the face of St Erasmus

[Matauschek 2016, 113]

Date27.04.1885

Evaluation of the condition:

the altarpiece was moved to accomodate Hübner's new altarpiece: the wing panel depicting St Catherine and both sides of the panel depicting St John and St Maurice exhibited bands of flaking and paint loss. Conservation and reinstallment was recommended.

[Matauschek 2016, 112]

examined by Hugo von Tschudis

Date23.03.1881

Evaluation of the condition regarding the possible loan to the Dresden Cranach exhibition in1899. According to W. Böhm (restorer at the Gemäldegalerie, Königliche Museen Berlin) the panels exhibited splits and blistering that were limited to the draperies and background. However, should the panels be lent this damage could extend to the faces and hands.

[Matauschek 2016, 112]

Conservation History

Date2015

Conservation treatment

[Matauschek 2016, 123, Fn. 110]

conservation treatment by Jana Bösenberg

Date2009 - 2010

Paint layers:

surface cleaning and consolidation of flaking paint

[Matauschek 2016, 116]

Date1982 - 1983

Paint layers:

consolidated with wax
old retouches and varnish removed
losses were filled and retouched

Varnish:

dammar and wax brush appplication

Frame (not original):

surface cleaning
losses filled and retouched
dammar varnish application

[Matauschek 2016, 15]

Date1967

The blooming of the varnish caused by the excess moisture in the atmosphere after the pipe burst was regenerated using the Pettenkofer process (whereby the blanched painting was exposed to alcohol vapour and copaiba balsam).

[Matauschek 2016, 115]

Date1964

consolidation with casein

[Matauschek 2016, 114]

Date1953 - 1959

consolidation with casein

[Matauschek 2016, 114]

Date1950 - 1951

consolidation of blistering paint with casein

[Matauschek 2016, 114]

Date1899

In preparation for the Cranach exhibition in Dresden (1899) at which selected component parts of the altarpiece were exhibited. The treatment included further thinning of the central panel and a new cradle was attached to the reverse.

[Matauschek 2016, 112]

conservation treatment by Edwin Birk
conservation treatment by Hermann Schütz

Date1861 - 1862

Support: problems along the joints of the wooden boards, particularly those already treated in 1839

Ground and paint layers: lack of adhesion between the ground and wooden support, blistering and tenting, flaking paint and paint loss

Varnish and old retouches:the oil varnish had dulled, the retouches discoloured

Conservation carried out by Carl Martin Schirmer:

Support: cradled (central panel); the fixed wings [DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001f and DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001g] were transferred to canvas.

Ground, paint and varnish layers: consolidation, varnish removal and retouching

[Matauschek 2016, 111, 112]

conservation treatment by Carl Martin Schirmer

Date1839

Altar removed from original position in the church; the frame was then replaced; open joints on the central panel were reglued, filled and retouched.

[Matauschek 2016, 111]

Date1657

First reference to an intervention employing gold, silver, varnish and paint; apparently the water gilding on the central panel was at this point renewed and replaced with oil gilding.

[Matauschek 2016, 111]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Altarpiece of the Virgin [outer movable wing, right]: St Catherine [recto]; Angel of the Annunciation [verso]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001e/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Altarpiece of the Virgin [outer movable wing, right]: St Catherine [recto]; Angel of the Annunciation [verso]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKH_NONE-MKH001e/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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