Christ Blessing the Children

Title

[cda 2018]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Wilkojc 2012, 54, No.4]

This horizontal composition is a knee-length representation of the subject of Christ blessing the children. Christ stands at the centre of the image surrounded by women, bringing their children and infants to him. The disciples are grouped together at the left edge of the painting.

Attributions: Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder	[cda 2018]
Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Wilkojc 2012, 54, No.4]

Production dates: about 1600 or later
about 1531 - 1540

Production dates

about 1600 or later	[cda 2018]
about 1531 - 1540	[printed on the reverse of a Postcard of the St. Anna Gemeinde Augsburg in the Archive D. Koepplin]
about 1540	[Wilkojc 2012, 54, No.4]
about 1540 - 1553	[handwritten annotation D. Koepplin in the Archive D. Koepplin]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 80.5 x 120 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 80.5 x 120 cm
[Wilkojc 2012, 54, No.4]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia upper central: Serpent with dropped wings

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia upper central: Serpent with dropped wings
[not genuine]

Inscriptions and Labels: Inscription upper edge:
'VND SIE BRACHTEN KINDLEIN ZV IM DAS ER SIE ANRVRETE'

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

Inscription upper edge:
'VND SIE BRACHTEN KINDLEIN ZV IM DAS ER SIE ANRVRETE'

Owner: Ev.-Luth. Kirchengemeinde St. Anna, Augsburg
Repository: St. Anna Kirche, Augsburg
Location: Augsburg

CDA ID: DE_SAA_NONE-SAA001
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAA_NONE-SAA001/

Provenance

no information available

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Wilkojc 2012

No. 4

Author	Ewa Wilkojc
Title	Christ blessing the children by Lucas Cranach the Elder in the collection of the Wawel Royal Castle: study and conservation
Place of Publication	Krakow
Year of Publication	2012

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Significant technical and stylistic differences between the Augsburg painting and authentic works by the Cranachs are confirmation that the Augsburg painting was not produced by Cranach the Elder, Cranach the Younger or the workshop. The Augsburg painting is a copy which was produced after a Cranach painting.

[G. Heydenreich, unveröffentlichter Untersuchungsbericht, Dez. 2007]

Christ Blessing the Children, about 1600 or later

Images

Technical studies

Stereomicroscopy
Infrared reflectography

Support

- the wooden panel consists of three wide boards (c.25–28 cm) joined horizontally

- painted surface c.81.2 x 120.2 cm

- several butterfly-keys visible on the front side which have been added before the painting process

- surface of the wood was only roughly planned with a jack plane

- on the reverse the joins have been covered with canvas strips and there are also two cross battens on the reverse, which may have been added at a later time

The technical characteristics of the panel differ significantly from other panels produced in the Cranach workshop.

Ground and Imprimatura

- no substantial white ground layer detectable

Underdrawing

- no underdrawing detectable on the Augsburg panel

Paint Layers and Gilding

- style, quality and technique of the painting differ from Cranach’s paintings

- significant drying cracks, especially in the blue draperies reflect the use unsophisticated

handling of paint and have not been detected in this form on any Cranach painting

- the embroidery edge on the red dress of the woman in profile was painted in a rather

impressionistic approach and this is uncommon for Cranach’s works

- the painting is signed with a winged serpent; the shape of the serpent differs significantly

from other authentic signatures

[G. Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, Dec. 2007]

Versions

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAA_NONE-SAA001/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAA_NONE-SAA001/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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