Portrait of Martin Luther

Portrait of Martin Luther

Title

Portrait of Martin Luther

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

The reformer is shown as a bust-length portrait against a light green background with a cast shadow to the left. His face has a light brown complexion, while his gaze is directed obliquely upwards. His hair is grey with unkempt curls that cover his forehead. The gown appears today as

The reformer is shown as a bust-length portrait against a light green background with a cast shadow to the left. His face has a light brown complexion, while his gaze is directed obliquely upwards. His hair is grey with unkempt curls that cover his forehead. The gown appears today as a monotone black, originally the angled collar continued down to the bottom. The white shirt visible at the neckline is bound with a black cord, beneath which there is a red braid.

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

Attributions
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger
Circle of Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

Circle of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Jochen Luckhardt, in Exhib. Cat. Münster 1985, No. 61]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur Münster, revised 2017]

Production dates
about 1539
about 1550

Production dates

about 1539

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

about 1550

[Jochen Luckhardt, in Exhib. Cat. Münster 1985, No. 61]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 34 x 26.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 34 x 26.5 cm

  • [Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

  • Dimensions including frame: 49 x 41 x 5 cm

  • [LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur Münster, revised 2017]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Westfälischer Kunstverein
Repository
LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur Münster
Location
Münster
CDA ID
DE_MKKM_115WKV
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKKM_115WKV/

Provenance

  • 1881 acquired by Westfälischer Kunstverein from Frankenberg Collection
    [Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]
  • permanent loan of Westfälischer Kunstvereins
    [Exhib. Cat. Brussels 2010, No. 93]

Exhibitions

  • Münster 1985, No. 61

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Münster 1990 468 232 p. 467
AuthorPaul Pieper
TitleDie deutschen, niederländischen und italienischen Tafelbilder bis um 1530
SeriesWestfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Münster Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe - Bestandskataloge
Place of PublicationMünster
Issue2nd edition
Year of Publication1990
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Münster 1985 61
AuthorJochen Luckardt
TitleHeinrich Aldegrever und die Bildnisse der Wiedertäufer [Westfälische Landesmuseum Münster]
Place of PublicationMünster
Year of Publication1985
Show Literature
Cat. Münster 1920 62
EditorF. Koch
TitleVerzeichnis der Gemälde im Landesmuseum der Provinz Westfalen
Place of PublicationMünster
Year of Publication1920
Show Literature
Cat. Münster 1914 62
AuthorF. Koch
TitleVerzeichnis der Gemäldesammlung des Westfälischen Kunstvereins im Landesmuseum zu Münster. I. Teil: Die älteren deutschen Schulen
Place of PublicationMünster
Year of Publication1914
Show Literature
  • Portrait of Martin Luther, about 1539

Images

Compare images
  • overall

Condition Reports

1990Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, dark medium, brush; possibly in two stages

Type/Ductus:

- relatively economic, freehand underdrawing

- thin to somewhat broader lines; occasionally searching

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines delineate the main contours, define forms therein and describe facial features; no representation of volume with hatching strokes

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e. g. in the faces and the landscape at the bottom edge)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder or workshop (?)

Comments:

- probably transferred freehand from a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2017]

  • the varnish has sunk and is discoloured, otherwise the condition is good.

[Cat. Münster 1990, No. 232]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKKM_115WKV/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MKKM_115WKV/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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