The Sermon of John the Baptist

The Sermon of John the Baptist

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

St John stands enveloped in the characteristic fur robe on a tree stump at the left edge of the picture and preaches to a group of men who occupy the rest of the pictorial space. The group consists mostly of soldiers in armour some on horseback, however there are a

St John stands enveloped in the characteristic fur robe on a tree stump at the left edge of the picture and preaches to a group of men who occupy the rest of the pictorial space. The group consists mostly of soldiers in armour some on horseback, however there are a number of figures in the foreground who cannot be associated with this class, some of them holding documents in their hands.

[cda 2016]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Younger
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 372][1]
[Rudloff-Hille 1953 A, 23][1]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 126]
[Schäfer, Cat. Dresden 1860, 1048][2]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 293, 295]
[2][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 292, 295]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Posse, Cat. Dresden 1930][1]
[Woermann, Cat. Dresden 1887, 611][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 292, 293]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Matthäi, Cat. Dresden 1835, Bd. 1, No. 111][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 292, 295]

Production date
1543

Production date

1543

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 72.5 x 121 x 1.7 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 72.5 x 121 x 1.7 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia left (tree stump): winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1543'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia left (tree stump): winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1543'

Inscriptions and Labels
  • top:
    'Luce am III Ca: Ir hoff und Kriegsleute last euch an eur Besoldung benugen und beschwert noch übersetzt …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • top:

  • 'Luce am III Ca: Ir hoff und Kriegsleute last euch an eur Besoldung benugen und beschwert noch übersetzt niemands und swantzet den leuten nit das ihre ab Im letzten Buch Mossi am XVI Ca: Dan wer schankkung nimt kan nit einem wie dem andern das Recht vnd die Warheit widerfahren lassen.'

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr., repeatedly]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeatedly): 'Inv. 43.'; in blue chalk: '1925-104'; in white chalk: '4, 460, 1063'; in red chalk: '26'

  • Reverse of the frame:

  • in blue ink on a label: 'L55, 1479'

  • [Schlegel 2003, 83][1]

  • [1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1925
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1925/

Provenance

  • 1657 accessioned in Elector Johann Georg III's art cabinet (Kunstkammer)
    [Sächs, HStADD, Akten der Generaldirektion der königlichen Sammlungen, Cap. X a, Nr. 36]
  • recorded in the art cabinet's (Kunstkammer) inventory, 1741 [Sächs, HStADD, 13458 SKD, Inventar Nr. 11]
  • 1830 entered the gallery [Sächs HStADD, Akten der Generaldirektion der königlichen Sammlungen, Cap. Xa, Nr. 23]
  • 1937, in Döbeln Town Hall [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, 46, no. 126]
  • Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

[Exhibition Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 292]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 126
Dresden 1937, 15
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 72
Basel 1974, 372
Chemnitz 2005, No. 15

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Maaz 2010 64, 65
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 290-295 15 Pl. p. 296/297
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 C 531, 541, 543-547, 549, 550, 551, 553, 555-557, 559, 560 15
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
Schulze 2004 66-70
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
Schlegel 2003 83-85
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
Stievermann 1994 72
AuthorDieter Stievermann
TitleLucas Cranach und der Kursächsische Hof
Publicationin Claus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff, eds., Lucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken, Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994
Pages66-77
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 66, 67 No. 22
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Jacoby 1987 91, 92, 95, 96
AuthorJoachim W. Jacoby
Title"Er hatte desfals die Dreistigkeit... folgende starke Sprüche anzubringen". Die Johannespredigt Lucas Cranachs d. J. im Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum
JournalNiederdeutsche Beiträge zur Kunstgeschichte
Issue26
Year of Publication1987
Pages83-104
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 372
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Schade 1974 89
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 72
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Rudloff-Hille 1953 B 23
AuthorGertrude Rudloff-Hille
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. Eine Einführung in sein Leben und sein Werk.
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Scheidig 1953 B 136-138
AuthorWalther Scheidig
TitleLucas Cranach Selbstbildnisse und die Cranach-Bildnisse
Publicationin Heinz Lüdecke, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere. Der Künstler und seine Zeit
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1953
Pages128-139
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 46 126
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1937 15
Authorn. a.
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere und der Jüngere. Ausstellung von Werken aus dem Besitze der Staatlichen Gemäldegalerie und dem Staatlichen Kupferstichkabinet
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1887 611
AuthorKarl Woermann
TitleKatalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden. Grosse Ausgabe
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1887
Link https://digital.slub-dresden.de/werkansicht/dlf/89861/5
Show Literature
Lindau 1883 109, 338, 339, 381
AuthorMartin Bernhard Lindau
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Lebensbild aus dem Zeitalter der Reformation
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1871 148 38
AuthorChristian Schuchardt
TitleLucas Cranach des Aeltern Leben und Werke. Dritter Theil
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1871
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schuchardt1871bd3
Show Literature
Schäfer 1860 1048, 1049
AuthorWilhelm Schäfer
TitleDie Königliche Gemälde-Gallerie im Neuen Museum zu Dresden. Beschreibung und Erläuterung sämmtlicher Gemälde nach der Ordnung der Räume begleitet von kunsgeschichtlichen und kritischen Erinnerungen
Volume1 - 3
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1860
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 44-45 235
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
Cat. Dresden 1835 No. 111 (Bd. 1)
AuthorFriedrich Matthäi
TitleVerzeichniss der Königlich Sächsischen Gemälde-Galerie zu Dresden. Erste Hauptabteilung. Die Gemälde der äusseren Galerie; Zweite Hauptabteilung. Die Gemälde der inneren Galerie, der Abteilung H. der äusseren galerie, und des Pastellcabinets
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1835
Show Literature
  • The Sermon of John the Baptist, 1543

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: limewood

  • analysed by Peter Klein

26.10.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

Technique:

- A few lines are visible, that cannot definitely be interpreted as underdrawing e.g. on John the Baptist's neck, along the contours of the black cap worn by the bearded man in the centre of the picture and on the shoe of the figure behind the man pointing to the left [1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

A few lines are visible, that cannot definitely be interpreted as underdrawing e.g. on John the Baptist's neck, along the contours of the black cap worn by the bearded man in the centre of the picture and on the shoe of the figure behind the man pointing to the left

Framing

- new frame: gilded frame in the style of the 18th and 19th century Dresden gallery frames

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- limewood

- 1.7 cm thick

- original surface on the reverse

- three horizontal boards

- the heartwood of the second and third boards faces towards the front

- plane marks

- rebate runs around the edge (lighter)

[Schlegel 2003, 83-85][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

Condition Reports

Date2003

Support:

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

  • convexly warped (0.5 cm)

  • minimum woodworm damage (a few exit holes)

Painted surface:

  • retouching in the area where the printed paper is attached to the panel and on the man with the sealed letter as well as on John the Baptist

  • scratchs on the hem of the coat of the man in black on the right

  • abrasion on the head of the man on the right

  • old, yellowed varnish

[Schlegel 2003, 83][1]

[1][Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

Conservation History

Date1971

[GGAM, Abt. Restaurierung, Meldung][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 291]

see also pdf

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Sermon of John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1925/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Sermon of John the Baptist', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1925/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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