The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [recto], Christ and Kaiphas, Christ crowned with Thorns [verso]

The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [recto], Christ and Kaiphas, Christ crowned with Thorns [verso]

Title

The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [recto], Christ and Kaiphas, Christ crowned with Thorns [verso]

[cda 2015]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2015]

Both wing panel pairs on the carved altar display when open and closed paintings executed in the workshop of the Master of the Pflock Altar. The interior panels depict scenes from the life of the Virgin, like on this panel, that shows the Meeting of the Virgin and Elizabeth. The

Both wing panel pairs on the carved altar display when open and closed paintings executed in the workshop of the Master of the Pflock Altar. The interior panels depict scenes from the life of the Virgin, like on this panel, that shows the Meeting of the Virgin and Elizabeth. The exterior shows scenes from Christ's passion. This wing panel depicts scenes showing Christ and Kaiphas and Christ being crowned with Thorns.

Attribution
Master of the Pflock Altarpiece

Attribution

Master of the Pflock Altarpiece

[Sandner 1993, 242]

Production date
about 1521

Production date

about 1521

[Sandner 1993, 242]

Dimensions
Dimensions of painted surface: 180.2 x 68.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of painted surface: 180.2 x 68.5 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 195 x 83.3 cm

  • [Heydenreich, cda 2015]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz
Repository
St. Annenkirche, Annaberg-Buchholz
Location
Annaberg-Buchholz
CDA ID
DE_SAKA_SAKA002c
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAKA_SAKA002c/

Overall view of the piece
Connected Works

The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, first pair of wings]: The Presentation in the Temple [verso]
  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, first pair of wings]: The Presentation in the Temple [verso], about 1521
  • DE_SAKA_SAKA002a
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz
The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right wing, first pair of wings]: The Flight into Egypt [verso]
  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right wing, first pair of wings]: The Flight into Egypt [verso], about 1521
  • DE_SAKA_SAKA002b
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz
The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right wing, second couple of wings]: The Coronation of the Virgin [recto], The Mockery of Christ and Ecce Homo [verso]
  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right wing, second couple of wings]: The Coronation of the Virgin [recto], The Mockery of Christ and Ecce Homo [verso], about 1521
  • DE_SAKA_SAKA002d
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz
The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left fixed wing]: Agony in the Garden and the Flagellation
  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left fixed wing]: Agony in the Garden and the Flagellation, about 1521
  • DE_SAKA_SAKA002e
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz
The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right fixed wing]: Christ and Pontius Pilate, Christ on the Way to Calvary
  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [right fixed wing]: Christ and Pontius Pilate, Christ on the Way to Calvary, about 1521
  • DE_SAKA_SAKA002f
  • Painting
  • Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde Annaberg-Buchholz

Provenance

  • donated by the miners' association and consecrated Pentecost 1521
    [Sandner 1993, 304]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner, Ritschel 1994 188-191 Figs. A127, A128, A130
AuthorIngo Sandner, Iris Ritschel
TitleArbeitsweise und Maltechnik Lucas Cranachs und seiner Werkstatt
Publicationin Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff, eds., Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages186-193
Show Literature
Sandner 1993 242, 302, 304-305, 337 Plate 74-76
AuthorIngo Sandner
TitleSpätgotische Tafelmalerei in Sachsen
Place of PublicationDresden, Basel
Year of Publication1993
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The altarpiece is the only surviving example of a cooperation between the artist and a sculptor.

[Sandner 1993, 302]

  • The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [recto], Christ and Kaiphas, Christ crowned with Thorns [verso], about 1521

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • reverse
  • irr
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Technical studies

03. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

The Encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid dark medium, brush; initial design executed employing a very diluted medium

Type/Ductus:

- detailed freehand underdrawing

- thin to broader line, frequently searching; occasional hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define essential details and facial features; occasional representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; almost no changes

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Master of the Pflock Altar

Comments:

- after a printed prototype (seven sheets from the Life of the Virgin, Albrecht Dürer)

Christ before Caiphas [recto,top]

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid black medium, brush; initial design probably executed employing a very diluted medium

Type/Ductus:

- very detailed freehand underdrawing

- thin to broader lines, frequently very long; hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define essential details and facial features; representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; some changes

The Crowing with Thorns [recto, bottom]

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid black medium, brush; initial design probably executed employing a very diluted medium

Type/Ductus:

- very detailed freehand underdrawing

- thin to broader lines, frequently very long; hatching-strokes

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define essential details and facial features; representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; some changes

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Workshop colleague of the Master of the Pflock Altar

Comments:

- after a printed prototype (Small Passion from 1509, Albrecht Dürer)

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2015]

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [rect…', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAKA_SAKA002c/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Bergknappschaft Altarpiece [left wing, second couple of wings]: The encounter between the Virgin and Elizabeth [rect…', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SAKA_SAKA002c/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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