Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg

Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg

Titles

Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg

[Schulze 2004, 215]]

Altarpiece for the castle chapel of Augustusburg

[Böhlitz 2005, 36]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 24]

wood

[Böhlitz 2005, 36]

The altarpiece shows the crucified in front of a vast landscape. Elector August of Saxony kneels to the left of the cross with his eight sons,on the right his wife Anna of Saxony with their six daughters. The left background shows the Agony in the Garden, the right the Resurrection.

[Görres,

The altarpiece shows the crucified in front of a vast landscape. Elector August of Saxony kneels to the left of the cross with his eight sons,on the right his wife Anna of Saxony with their six daughters. The left background shows the Agony in the Garden, the right the Resurrection.

[Görres, cda 2012]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Lucas Cranach the Younger (and workshop)

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Schulze 2004]

Lucas Cranach the Younger (and workshop)

[Böhlitz 2005, 36]

Production date
1571

Production date

1571

[Böhlitz 2005, 36]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 318 x 237 x 1.1-1.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 318 x 237 x 1.1-1.5 cm

  • [Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 24]

  • Dimensions of support: 315 x 235 cm

  • [Böhlitz 2005, 36]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the cross: serpent with dropped wings; in yellow paint

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the cross: serpent with dropped wings; in yellow paint

Owner
Freistaat Sachsen
Repository
Schloss Augustusburg
Location
Augustusburg
CDA ID
DE_SKAU_NONE-SKAU001A
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKAU_NONE-SKAU001A/

Overall view of the piece
Connected Works

Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg [superstructure]
  • Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg [superstructure], 1571
  • DE_SKAU_NONE-SKAU001B
  • Painting
  • Freistaat Sachsen

Provenance

  • 1571 the Cranach workshop deliver the Altarpiece commissioned by Elector August I. for the chapel of the newly built Augustusburg Castle. With this altarpiece the elector wished to demonstrate his role as patron of the Lutheran Faith.
    [Krause et al. 1972, 23]
  • in 1859 attempts were made to transfer the altarpiece to the Royal Museum, these were successfully averted.
    [Eisbein et al. 2009, 25]
  • in 1944 the altarpiece was taken to the south west tower as a protective measure against the threat of imminent air raids. The frame remained in the chapel.
    [Eisbein et al. 2009, 25]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Herrschaft 2015 181
AuthorJana Herrschaft
TitleMaltechnik und Materialwahl Lucas Cranach des Jüngeren am Beispiel der Kanzelbilder in der Kapelle auf Schloss Augustusburg (Sachsen)
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/7016/2097/3068/Herrschaft_Heydenreich_2014_A_Lucretia_by_Cranach_the_Elder.pdf
Pages180-191
Show Literature
Lücke 2015 36
AuthorMonika Lücke
TitleLucas Cranach der Jüngere als Unternehmer
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages30-41
Show Literature
Rhein 2015 48, Fn. 41
AuthorStefan Rhein
TitleLucas Cranach der Jüngere und Philipp Melanchthon. Zu den Spuren einer Wittenberger Beziehung
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages42-51
Show Literature
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 135, 138, Fn. 82, 83 Fig. 7a
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
Show Literature
Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009
AuthorManfred Eisbein, Olaf Kempe, Thomas Löther, Björn Weiß
TitleDie Bildträgerkonservierung und statische Sicherung des Augustusburger Cranach-Altars
JournalVDR-Beiträge zur Erhaltung von Kunst- und Kulturgut
Issue2
Year of Publication2009
Pages24-46
Show Literature
Böhlitz 2005 36-38 Pl. 12
AuthorMichael Böhlitz
TitleAltargemälde von Lucas Cranach dem Älteren, Lucas Cranach dem Jüngeren und ihren Schülern im Chemnitzer Raum
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, ed., Cranach. Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages18-43
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 460-462, 521 under No. 39 Figs. 202, 203
EditorHarald Marx, Karin Kolb, Ingrid Mössinger
TitleCranach Anlässlich der Ausstellung Cranach vom 13. November 2005 bis 12. März 2006 in den Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz. Eine Ausstellung in Kooperation mit der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Schulze 2004 211-219
AuthorIngrid Schulze
TitleLucas Cranach d. J. und die protestantische Bildkunst in Sachsen und Thüringen. Frömmigkeit, Theologie, Fürstenreformation
Place of PublicationBucha near Jena
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Schade 1974 95-96
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Roch 1973
AuthorIrene Roch
TitleZu Burgen- und Schloßdarstelungen bei Cranach
Publicationin Lucas Cranach. Künstler und Gesellschaft. Referate des Colloquiums mit internationaler Beteiligung zum 500. Geburtstag Lucas Cranach der Ältere, Wittenberg 1973
Place of PublicationWittenberg
Year of Publication1973
Pages114-116
Show Literature
Krause et al. 1972
AuthorHans-Joachim Krause, Heinrich Magirius, Kristin-Barbara Ostmann
TitleSchloss Augustusburg 1572 - 1972. Baugeschichte und denkmalpflegerische Instandsetzung
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Schade 1968 B 74-75
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Epitaphbilder Lucas Cranach d. J.
Publicationin Bozena Steinborn, ed., Ze Studiów nad Sztuka XVI Wieku na Slasku i w Krajach Sasiednich(Materialy z konferencji urzadzonej przez Muzeum Slaskie we Wroclaw 10 i 17 grudnia 1966 roku)
Place of PublicationBreslau
Year of Publication1968
Pages63-76
Show Literature
  • Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg, 1571

Images

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Technical studies

04. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
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Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

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

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger

Comments:

- the portrait were probably transferred from a preparatory drawing

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2006Technical Examination

Support

Limewood, 20 boards

Condition Reports

Date2005 - 2006

Support:

  • the panel, which has been thinned to a thickness of 1.1 cm has split at the centre along its weak point

  • the main split is 180cm in length

  • yearly the split extends by c. 1 cm ?

  • the reverse of the panel has been cradled: there are traces of the thinning process from 1858, a coating of linseed oil (1858) and especially the wax treatment (1936) are still visible

  • areas particularly affected by wood-worm damage exhibit splits and scaling

  • less damaged areas are stable

  • the vertical members of the cradle were attached with gluten glue along the 19 joins of the panel, which consists of 20 planks. The adhesion exhibits relatively few problems.

  • some new splits were reinforced with wooden blocks (1935, 1964)

  • in the area of the open split the warp of the panel exhibits an offset of up to 4 mm

Paint Layers:

  • the paint layers are stable, some retouches have altered considerably

Varnish:

  • varnish from 1825 and 1858 has yellowed

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 26]

Conservation History

Date2008 - 2011

Conservation of the painted panels and the frame

  • conservation treatment by Unknown

Date2008

  • a removeable backboard consisting of balsa wood elements was attached to the reverse of the panel

  • an auxillary support frame of cedar wood on stainless-steel rollers was employed

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1966

  • the cross-members of the cradle were treated

  • impregnation of the wood with a coldmelt glue in the area of splits

  • loss along the painted edge and the centre of the panel were filled

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1955

  • wood-worm treated with hydrogen cyanide (Zyklon B)

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1936

  • conservation of the oil coating on the reverse of the panel with a wax-resin application

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1904

  • old split filled and overpainted

  • treatment of wood-worm damage with oil of terpentine

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1893

  • extensive restoration treatment, particularly of the frame and top of the painting

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1826

  • treatment of the wood-worm with wormwood essence

  • moulded border replaced

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Date1825

  • the frame was reconstructed and the maple wood plaque was replaced

[Eisbein, Kempe et al. 2009, 25]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKAU_NONE-SKAU001A/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Retabel with Crucifixion in the chapel of castle Augustusburg', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKAU_NONE-SKAU001A/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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