Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]

Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]

Title

Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]

[cda 2015]

Painting on parchment

Medium

Painting on parchment

[cda 2015]

The sheet is from Johann II. of Anhalt's (1504-1551) edition of the Lutheran bible [Libri in membr. impr. fol. 8 und 9], which was printed in 1541 on parchment in two volumes. The sheet is located at the beginning of the second volume.

Corresponding to the difference between

The sheet is from Johann II. of Anhalt's (1504-1551) edition of the Lutheran bible [Libri in membr. impr. fol. 8 und 9], which was printed in 1541 on parchment in two volumes. The sheet is located at the beginning of the second volume.

Corresponding to the difference between Law and Gospel as distinguished by Luther the composition is dichotomous in structure. The picture plane is divided down the centre in two halves by a tree, which has bare branches on the left and green ones on the right. The despairing sinner is shown on the left side being chased by death and the devil into Hell's blazing flames. He looks to the right, where Moses stands among a group of Old Testament prophets and points at the tablets with the ten commandments. Mankind's transgression is illustrated with depictions of the Fall of Man and the Last Judgement. On the right the scene of the Brazen Serpent - an episode from the Old Testament, which was important for Luther and prefigures the crucifixion - illustrates how the Israelites were saved from the poisonous snakes by following God's instruction. St John the Baptist stands to the right of the tree together with the naked man from the left side of the panel. St John was the last prophet before Jesus and according to Luther can be positioned between Law and the Gospel and is represented here in the role of mediator. He draws the attention of the naked man, who stands quite calmly with his arms folded, to the crucified Christ at the right edge of the image. Blood spurts out of a wound in Christ's side onto the naked man's chest. The Holy Spirit appears in the blood in the shape of a dove. Illustrated here is that Christ alone can overturn the law's condemnation by dying in place of mankind. The Holy Spirit conveys his joyful message. It is only through Christ's faith, his 'sola fide', that mankind can be blessed with divine forgiveness by the redeeming spurt of blood. Through the resurrection of Christ, who ascends into heaven above the tomb behind the cross, death and the devil who pursued the sinner on the left side of the panel are banished: both lie vanquished at Christ's feet. The lamb of God is shown in front of the cross and like the risen Christ he holds the victory banner. At the top right corner only the feet of the ascending Christ are visible. In the background at the right the annunciation to the shepherds is shown in front of the gates of the town of Bethlehem. The Virgin stands on the tomb and the infant Christ floats towards her out of a gloriole. All the scenes on the right side illustrate mankind's acceptance of the word of God. It is made clear to the viewer that both law and gospel herald the same joyful message that always leads to Christ.

The composition is enclosed in a broad frame, gilded with gold leaf, which contains a text field with a quotation from the New Testament. A further two quotations are located above the frame.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Wahl 1935, 148]

Production date
about 1543 - 1544

Production date

about 1543 - 1544

[cda 2015]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support (parchment sheet): 40 x 27 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support (parchment sheet): 40 x 27 cm

  • Dimensions of painted surface: 24 x 21 cm

  • [Troschke 1939, 19]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels
  • above the frame, in two columns:
    Left: 'Rom. i. Es wird offenbart Gottes zorn / von himel . über …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • above the frame, in two columns:
  • Left:

  • 'Rom. i. Es wird offenbart Gottes zorn / von himel . über aller menschen gottlos / wesen vnnd unrecht.'

  • Right:

  • 'Jesa. vii. Der herr wird euch selb ein zeich / en geben. Sihe eine Jüngfraw wird schwa= / ger sein . vnnd einen Son geperenn.'

    • beneath the image, in two columns:
  • Left:

  • 'Sie sind alle zumal sünder vnd mang / eln das sie sich Gottes nicht rhüm= / men mügen. Ro. iii.

  • Die sünde ist des todes spies: aber das / gesetz ist der sünden krafft. i. Cor. i5.

  • Das gesetz richtet nur zorn an. Ro. iiii.

  • Durchs gesetz kombt erkentnis der / sünde. Ro. iii. Das gesetz vnnd / alle Propheten: gehen bis auff Jo= / hannis zeit. Mathei.xi.'

  • Right:

  • 'Der gerecht lebt seines glaubens. Ro.i. Wir hal= / ten das der mensch gerecht werde durch den / glauben: on des gesetzs werck. Ro.iii.

  • Sihe: das ist Gottes lamb: welches der welth / sünde tregt. Jo.i. In der heiligüng des geistes: / zum gehorsam vnd besprengung des blutes / Jhesü Christi. i. Petri. i.

  • Der tod ist verschlüngen ym sieg: Tod: wo / ist dein spies: helle: wo ist dein sieg: Gott / aber sey danck: der vns den sieg gibt: durch / Jhesüm Christüm vnsern herzen. i. Cor. 15.'

Owner
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Repository
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Abt. Historische Drucke
Location
Berlin
CDA ID
DE_SBB_fol-9-Ir
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SBB_fol-9-Ir/

Provenance

  • the edition of the bible containing this sheet was commissioned by Johann II. of Anhalt (1504 - 1551) and was owned by him
  • 1659 given as a gift by Johann Georg II. (1627-1693) to Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg (1620-1688)
  • since then located in the state library (Staatsbibliothek) (formally electoral, later royal library)
    [Wahl 1935, S. 144-145]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Willing-Stritzke 2015 141, 144 4
AuthorNadine Willing-Stritzke
TitleDie Prachtbibeln Cranachs des Jüngeren
Publicationin Roland Enke, Katja Schneider, Jutta Strehle, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere - Entdeckung eines Meisters, Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 2015
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages139-147
Reinitzer 2006 56-57 77 154
AuthorHeimo Reinitzer
TitleGesetz und Evangelium. Über ein reformatorisches Bildthema, seine Tradition, Funktion und Wirkungsgeschichte
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationHamburg
Year of Publication2006
Troschke 1939 B 15, 21 4
AuthorAsmus von Troschke
TitleMiniaturbildnisse von Cranach d. J. in Lutherbibeln
JournalZeitschrift des deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft
Issue6
Year of Publication1939
Pages15-28
Wahl 1935 144-148
AuthorPaul Wahl
TitleDie Lutherbibel in Anhalt
JournalSachsen und Anhalt : Jahrbuch der Historischen Kommission für Sachsen-Anhalt
Issue11
Year of Publication1935
Pages137-150
Luther 1909 722
TitleD. Martin Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe Die Deutsche Bibel, 2. Band
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1909
Schuchardt 1851 C 30-31
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Zweiter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1851
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1851bd2
  • Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt], about 1543 - 1544

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SBB_fol-9-Ir/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SBB_fol-9-Ir/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.