Martin Luther, half-length, facing right

Martin Luther, half-length, facing right

Title

Martin Luther, half-length, facing right

[KKL 2022]

Painting on hardwood (probably beech)

Medium

Painting on hardwood (probably beech)

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

From 1525 in addition to the small round portraits of Luther and von Bora the Cranach workshop also produced considerably larger upright rectangular portraits of the pair against a green background (III.M7-III.M10), as well as smaller rectangular panels with a blue background from 1526 (III.M11-III.M19). This work belongs to the

From 1525 in addition to the small round portraits of Luther and von Bora the Cranach workshop also produced considerably larger upright rectangular portraits of the pair against a green background (III.M7-III.M10), as well as smaller rectangular panels with a blue background from 1526 (III.M11-III.M19). This work belongs to the latter group. The scale of the small rectangular works corresponds to that of the round portraits (III.M1-III.M6).[1]

The Schleswig panels represent one of five surviving examples from a series within the small format Portrait Group III (III.M15-III.M19). The summary way these versions were worked up, the slightly smaller scale in favour of an extended image format and the shape of the numbers distinguish them from the other panels of the same size III.M11-III.M14.[2] The prominent inscription on the Schleswig examples differs from all other versions in the Portrait Group III. Furthermore together with the panels in Wolfenbüttel (III.M11) they are the only surviving examples in an original frame. Numerous corresponding holes in the external profile of both frames may stem from a locking mechanism.[3] The portraits do not otherwise appear to diverge significantly from the other examples in this subgroup,[4] therefore it seems plausible to attribute them to the Cranach workshop.[5]

Daniel Görres, Wibke Ottweiler


[1] The group of small format rectangles can be divided into two subgroups that differ marginally from each other but share the same scale. The smaller scale corresponds to that of the round portraits.

[2] All five examples display the insignia and the date in the top left corner. In all cases the ‚2‘ has a rounder form. See also Portrait Group III in the introductory text.

[3] Many thanks to Anne-Christin Henningsen, Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Schloss Gottorf, for her observations. See also the technical report as well as the introduction in Portrait Group III.

[4] see Fn 3.

[5] A technical examination of the panels was not carried out a spart of the KKL.

Bibliography:

Exhib. Cat. Münster 1985, no. 60; Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994, no. 175; Drees 1994, 65-66; Exhib. Cat. Schleswig, 542; Spielmann 1997, no. 140; Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 1999, no. 73; Sandner / Heydenreich / Smith-Contini 2015, 132.

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[KKL 2022]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Production date
1526

Production date

1526

[dated, KKL 2022]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 21.4 x 15.8 x 0.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 21.4 x 15.8 x 0.5 cm

  • [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia top left: serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1526'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia top left: serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1526'

  • [KKL 2022]

Inscriptions and Labels

top left: 'D. MARTINVS LUTER'
[KKL 2022] On the frame: - bottom, centre: metal label with the inscription …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • top left: 'D. MARTINVS LUTER'

  • [KKL 2022]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • On the frame: - bottom, centre: metal label with the inscription 'LUCAS CRANACH'

  • [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Schloss Gottorf, Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte, Schleswig
Location
Schleswig
CDA ID
DE_SHLM_NONE-005
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
KKL-No
III.M15a, Part of portait group III
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-005/

Provenance

on permanent loan to the museum from a private collection
[KKL 2022]

Exhibitions

Kronach 1994, no. 175
Schleswig 1997, no. 140
Bremen 2009, no. 2

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 132, Fn. 24
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
TitleVeränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages128-141
Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 1999 73
EditorLutherhalle, Wittenberg
Title"Lieber Herr Käthe" - Katharina von Bora, die Lutherin. Aufsätze anläßlich ihres 500. Geburtstages
Place of PublicationWittenberg
Year of Publication1999
Cat. Schleswig 1997 122, 292 No. 140
EditorHeinz Spielmann
TitleSchloß Gottorf und seine Sammlungen. Renaissance und Barock
SeriesNeue Bildhefte
Place of PublicationSchleswig
Year of Publication1997
Exhib. Cat. Schleswig 1997 542 163ff.
EditorJan Drees, Heinz Spielmann
TitleGottorf im Glanz des Barock. Kunst und Kultur am Schleswiger Hof 1544-1713. Bd. 1: Die Herzöge und ihre Sammlung
Volume1
Place of PublicationSchleswig
Year of Publication1997
Drees 1994 65-66
AuthorJan Drees
TitleBildnispaar Martin Luther und Philipp Melanchthon um 1543
JournalJahrbuch des Schleswig-Holsteinischen Landesmuseums Schloss Gottorf
IssueN.F. 4 (1992-1993)
Year of Publication1994
Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994 352-353 175
EditorClaus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken [Festung Rosenberg, Kronach 17.05 - 21.08.1994; Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig 07.09 - 06.11.1994]
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994
Exhib. Cat. Münster 1985 158f. No. 60
AuthorJochen Luckardt
TitleHeinrich Aldegrever und die Bildnisse der Wiedertäufer [Westfälische Landesmuseum Münster]
Place of PublicationMünster
Year of Publication1985

Research History / Discussion

Between 1525 and 1528 a large numer of double portraits were produced After Martin Luther and Katharina of Bora were married between 1525 and 1528 a large number of double portraits were produced. The mass- reproduction of these portraits was achieved by tracings, which were transferred to the support employing pinholes. The double portraits in Schloss Gottorf differ from the other versions in their small format. Similar in this respect is only the portrait of Katharina von Bora, published in [Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974] under the No. 181 [PRIVATE_NONE-P163], which is or was in a french private collection.

It is presumed that the portrait of Luther already existed, because the representations of the sitters do not correspond exactly and the inscriptions differ formally.

[Dittmeyer, Schloss Gottorf 2013]

  • Martin Luther, half-length, facing right, 1526

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

Date2022

Framing

Please see German Version

  • Bearbeiter/in Wibke Ottweiler

2013Technical Examination

Framing

The outer edges of the left and right members (as far as the profile) are part of the panel; the inner profiled batten as well as the upper and lower frame members were added. The original narrow frame has been incorporated into a newer, wider frame.

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

08. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- underdrawing with copied lines (traced?)

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comment:

- probably transferred from a pre-existing design (traced lines)

[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>, 'Martin Luther, half-length, facing right', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-005/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Martin Luther, half-length, facing right', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-005/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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