Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Titles

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

[CDA 2011]

Duke Albert (the Bold)

[Lindau 1883, 103, 221][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 434]

A Saxon Prince

[Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. 2, No. 288][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 434]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

The elector wears a black robe with a broad fur collar and a floral wreath. He has black cutlets. On the index finger of his left hand he wears a single ring. He is shown in front of a green font facing left.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, revised 2011]

Production date
1526

Production date

1526

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 57 x 37 x 0.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 57 x 37 x 0.8 cm

  • [Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia right: winged serpent with elevated wings and dated '1526'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia right: winged serpent with elevated wings and dated '1526'

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr. repeated]; [Sammlungsnachweis Dresden, repeated]; in black ink: '77.'; in blue chalk: 'Jo/2, …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr. repeated]; [Sammlungsnachweis Dresden, repeated]; in black ink: '77.'; in blue chalk: 'Jo/2, 45'; in blue chalk: '(in Cyrillic script) KP 3782'; in white paint: 'Johann der Beständige, Churfürst (ernest: L:) v: Sachsen. Geb: 30. Juni 1469. 16. Aug: 1532.'; [four light blue circles in chalk encircle pin-holes where a relative humidity measuring device was used]

  • [Schlegel 2003, 42][1]

  • [1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1908B
FR (1978) Nr.
FR311
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1908B/

Provenance

  • 1827 Heinrich Graf Vitzthum von Eckstädt (1770-1837) acquired the painting at the auction of the Campe Collection in Leipzig
  • 1850 already in the possession of the Royal House in Saxony (königlicher Sächsische Besitz)
  • 1924 private collection (Wettinischen family)
    [Sächs HStADD, Verzeichnis VHW 1928, Cap. I Nr. 311][1]
  • 1931 sold from the collection of Prince Georg of Saxony
  • 1932 acquired by Karl Haberstock (Berlin), who donated it to the Gemäldegalerie
  • after 1945 declared as a war loss
  • 1967 returned from USSR

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 434]
[Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, revised 2011]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1899, no. 26
Berlin 1937, no. 59
Dresden 1971, no. 113
Berlin 1983, no. C 31
Dresden 1989, no. 138
Dresden 1998, 145, 147
Berlin 2002/2003, no. 128
London 2003, no. 3
Chemnitz 2005, no. 35

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 2015 152
EditorWolfgang Holler, Karin Kolb
TitleCranach in Weimar, [Weimar, Schiller-Museum, 3 April - 14 June 2015]
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Maaz 2010 52, 53
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 432-437 35 Pl. p. 433
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
Kolb 2005 A 158, 170 Fn. 123 35
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleCranach - Die Gemälde in Dresden und ihre Geschichte
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages112-173
Show Literature
Kolb 2005 C 536, 572 35
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleDokumentation zum Dresdener Cranach-Bestand
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages526-572
Show Literature
Schölzel 2005 191 35
AuthorChristoph Schölzel
TitleZeichnungen unter der Farbschicht. Zu den Unterzeichnungen von Cranachs Gemälden in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister und in der Rüstkammer Dresden
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages182-197
Show Literature
Widmaier-Picasso 2005 63, 69 Fig. 9
AuthorDiana Widmaier-Picasso
TitlePicasso und Cranach der Ältere. Kunst als Lebenskraft
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, ed., Cranach. Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages64-77
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. London 2003 No. 3
EditorHarald Marx
TitleMasterpieces from Dresden, Royal Academy of Arts
Place of PublicationLondon
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Schlegel 2003 42
AuthorArmgard Schlegel
TitleTechnologische Untersuchungen an Holzbildträgern von Gemälden der Cranachwerkstatt in den Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Place of PublicationDresden
IssueSeminararbeit der Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2002/2003 No. 128
AuthorHarald Marx
TitleNach der Flut. Meisterwerke der Dresdener Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, Altes Museum Berlin
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication2002
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1998 145, 147
EditorHarald Marx, Jutta Charlotte von Bloh
TitleZurück in Dresden. Eine Ausstellung ehemals vermißter Werke aus Dresdener Museen. Skulpturensammlung, Rüstkammer, Kupferstich-Kabinett, Gemäldegalerie Alte und Neue Meister, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Porzellansammlung
Place of PublicationEurasberg
Year of Publication1998
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 31, 40
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1989 No. 138
EditorManfred Bachmann, Albertinum, Dresden
TitleDer silberne Boden. Kunst und Bergbau in Sachsen
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1989
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1983 No. C31
EditorAltes Museum, Berlin
TitleKunst der Reformationzeit
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1983
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 130 No. 311 Fig. 311
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1971 No. 113
EditorStaatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
TitleDeutsche Kunst der Dürerzeit
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1971
Show Literature
Bernhard, Rogner 1965 93
AuthorMarianne Bernhard, Klaus P. Rogner
TitleVerlorene Werke der Malerei. In Deutschland in der Zeit von 1939 bis 1945 zerstörte und verschollene Gemälde
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1965
Show Literature
Ebert 1963 86
AuthorHans Ebert
TitleÜber die Rückgewinnung zeitweilig verschollener Werke der Dresdener Gemäldegalerie
JournalJahrbuch der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Issue4 (1963/1964)
Year of Publication1963
Pages25-44
Show Literature
Posse 1943 No. 102
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
IssueSecond edition
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
Posse 1942 No. 102
AuthorHans Posse
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä.
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1942
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 27 059 Pl. 27
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 250
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Posse 1932 73-76
AuthorHans Posse
TitleZwei Bildnisse sächsischer Kurfürsten von Lucas Cranach d. Ä.
JournalPantheon
Issue5
Year of Publication1932
Pages73-76
Show Literature
Glaser 1923 175, 231
AuthorCurt Glaser
TitleLukas Cranach
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1923
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/glaser1923
Show Literature
Flechsig 1900 A 266
AuthorEduard Flechsig
TitleCranachstudien
Volume1
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1900
Link page/n5/mode/2up
Show Literature
Flechsig 1900 B No. 88
AuthorEduard Flechsig
TitleTafelbilder Lucas Cranachs d. Ä. und seiner Werkstatt
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1900
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/flechsig1900tafeln
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1899 No. 26
EditorKarl Woermann
TitleDeutsche Kunstausstellung Dresden 1899. Abteilung Cranach-Ausstellung. Wissenschaftliches Verzeichnis der ausgestellten Werke
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1899
Link http://resolver.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/SBB00002A2400000000
Show Literature
Lindau 1883 103, 221
AuthorMartin Bernhard Lindau
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Lebensbild aus dem Zeitalter der Reformation
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 54 288
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
Show Literature
  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, 1526

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • other
  • other

Documents

Technical studies

19.09.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- fluid (brush?)

Technique:

- The lines in the face cannot with certainty be identified as underdrawing, the contours of the ears exhibit visible deviations, which may have been carried out during the painting process [1]

- underdrawing or painted small flowers with black dots in the centre, which were then not executed in the final version

- alterations during the painting process: white flowers on the dark hair, similar to those in the underdrawing

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

The lines in the face cannot with certainty be identified as underdrawing, the contours of the ears exhibit visible deviations, which may have been carried out during the painting process

Framing

- new frame: profiled gold frame, polychromed, 19th/20th century

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- limewood

- 0.8 cm thick

- original surface on the reverse

- two horizontal boards

- plane marks

- rebate along all four sides

- the joins and splits are covered with tow

[Schlegel 2003, 42][1]

[1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

Condition Reports

Date2003

Support:

  • on the reverse: partially covered with a pale coating (lead white ?)

  • marks from nails employed to fix the panel in a frame

Painted surface:

  • small retouchs in the background on the left, in the robe and along the edges of the panel

  • old, yellowed varnish

[Schlegel 2003, 42][1]

[1][Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 432]

Conservation History

Date2005

  • in preparation for a Cranach exhibition (frame)

see pdf

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1908B/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1908B/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.