Jesus blessing the Children

Jesus blessing the Children

Title

Jesus blessing the Children

[cda 2013]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Jesus is at the centre of the composition among a group of ten women, most of them holding small infants. In the foreground there are two older children and the bottom right corner is occupied by a woman breast feeding her child. On the left side of the painting there

Jesus is at the centre of the composition among a group of ten women, most of them holding small infants. In the foreground there are two older children and the bottom right corner is occupied by a woman breast feeding her child. On the left side of the painting there are five disciples. Peter and Paul are clearly recognisible at the front, deep in conservation.

[Dittmeyer, Schloss Gottorf 2013]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Production date
before 1537

Production date

before 1537

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 71.5 x 121 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 71.5 x 121 cm

  • [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels
  • top edge:
    'LASSET DIE KINDLEIN ZV MIR KOMMEN VND WERET INEN NICHT DEN SOLCHER IST DAS REICH GOTTES. MARCI. …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top edge:

  • 'LASSET DIE KINDLEIN ZV MIR KOMMEN VND WERET INEN NICHT DEN SOLCHER IST DAS REICH GOTTES. MARCI. AM X.'

Owner
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Repository
Schloss Gottorf, Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte, Schleswig
Location
Schleswig
CDA ID
DE_SHLM_1967-528
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_1967-528/

Provenance

  • in the collection of Lord North Northbrook, London (private collection, England)[1]
  • P. and D. Colnaghi, London [2]
  • Hinrichsen, Johannes Hinrichsen, Berlin (1/2) (art market, Germany)/Hans W. Lange, Berlin (1/2), 23.06.1941 (art market, Germany)[1]
  • Göring Coll.; bought from Hinrichsen ( Berlin 1943/44; (Hofer) RM 50.000.-- [3] (Göring-Report, p. 122) [2]
  • whereabouts after 1945: property of the Federal Republic of Germany [1]
  • since 1967 on permanent loan to the museum [4]

[1][Göring Collection, DHM database, accessed 29.01.2015]
[2][Kunstverwaltung des Bundes, accessed 26.01.2023]
[3][DHM database, accessed 29.01.2015]
[4][Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

See also 'Research history / Discussion'

Exhibitions

Eisenach 1996

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 202
EditorJulia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
TitleBild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Gotha, Herzogliches Museum; Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Schloss Wilhelmshöhe]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Fleischhauer 2005 72 Fig. 4
AuthorCarsten Fleischhauer
TitleDer Wandel der Jenseitsvorstellungen durch die Reformation
Publicationin Herwig Guratzsch, Claus von Carnap-Bornheim, eds. Wege ins Jenseits. Mit Walküren zu Odin, mit Engeln zu Gott Exhib. Cat. Stiftung Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf
Place of PublicationNeumünster
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Cat. Schleswig 1997 275 No. 93 Fig. p. 75
EditorHeinz Spielmann
TitleSchloß Gottorf und seine Sammlungen. Renaissance und Barock
SeriesNeue Bildhefte
Place of PublicationSchleswig
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1996 264f. No. 224
EditorWartburg-Stiftung, Eisenach, Jutta Krauß
TitleAller Knecht und Christi Untertan. Der Mensch Luther und sein Umfeld. Katalog der Ausstellungen zum 450. Todesjahr
Place of PublicationEisenach
Year of Publication1996
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

The subject of 'Christ Blessing the Children' was not known before the Reformation. It can be interpreted as a reaction to the anabaptists' rejection of the baptism of children. Luther refered to the quoted biblical text Mk 10 as justification.

In the Cranach workshop numerous paintings were created illustrating this subject, whereby no two are identical. One of these paintings also once belonged the ducal collection in Gottorf palace [DK_SMK_KMS2087], FR362F: it arrived there as part of a dowery from the Saxon Princess Maria Elizabeth who married Duke Friedrich III of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf in 1630.

The older children portrayed here appear in other paintings of this subject and it has been suggested that they may be Luther's children.

[Daria Dittmeyer, Schloss Gottorf 2013]

For further information see also:

[Kunstverwaltung des Bundes, accessed 26.01.2023]

  • Jesus blessing the Children, before 1537

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

08. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium; possibly with an initial design in a dry drawing material, dark or red chalk?

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing?

- occasional thin lines, in part delicate, fine lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe essential details; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Elder? or Lucas Cranach the Younger?

Comments:

- possibly with reference to a preparatory drawing or pre-existing design

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Jesus blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_1967-528/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Jesus 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_SHLM_1967-528/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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