The Idolatry of Solomon

The Idolatry of Solomon

Title

The Idolatry of Solomon

[CDA 2011]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

The first book of Kings, chapter 11 recounts how King Solomon led astray by his many wives from different countries prays to foreign Gods. Cranach shows the King appropriately enough kneeling in front of a statue of a female figure that is not unlike his wife who stands behind him.

The first book of Kings, chapter 11 recounts how King Solomon led astray by his many wives from different countries prays to foreign Gods. Cranach shows the King appropriately enough kneeling in front of a statue of a female figure that is not unlike his wife who stands behind him. The scene takes place in an interior with an open door offering a view of a landscape.

[Görres, 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, 230]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel, 572][1]
[Waagen 1858, 38, 39][1]
[1] ][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 232, 235]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

'Atelierbild'
[Schäfer, Cat. Dresden 1860, 1045][1]

'Atelierbild'
[Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. 2, Nr. 43][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 232]

Production date
about 1537

Production date

about 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 74 x 121.5 x 1.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 74 x 121.5 x 1.8 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom, centre (below Solomon's foot): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left; in black paint

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom, centre (below Solomon's foot): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left; in black paint

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel:
[Gal.-Nr., repeatedly]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeatedly): 'Inv. 42'; in white chalk: '500'; in blue ink …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel:

  • [Gal.-Nr., repeatedly]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeatedly): 'Inv. 42'; in white chalk: '500'; in blue ink on a label: '35 Kr 272 mAs 20.11.53, Inst. f. Denkmalpflege Halle'

  • Reverse of the frame: [Exhibition label: Weimar]; in red chalk: '68'

  • [Schlegel 2003, 89][1]

  • [1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1928
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1928/

Provenance

  • 1657 entered the Kunstkammer under the Elector Johann Georg II
    [Sächs, HStADD, Akten der Generaldirektion der königlichen Sammlungen, Cap. X a, Nr. 36][1]

  • Inventory of the Kunstkammer from 1700-1714
    [Sächs, HStADD, Cap. X a, Nr. 4][1]

  • Inventory of the Kunstkammer from 1741, fol. 554, Nr. 22[1]

  • the entry in the inventory of the Kunstkammer matches the inventory of Cranach paintings in Torgau, Schloss Hartenfels?
    [Sächs, HStADD, Konsilium Nr. 1125][1]

  • first mentioned as being in the Gemäldegalerie in Matthäi's catalogue from the year 1835
    [Matthäi, Cat. Dresden 1835, Bd. 1, No. 141][1]

  • 1945 war loss, parts in:
    [Forschungsarchiv SKD, Nachlass Hans Posse Nr. 1][2]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 232, 235]
[2][Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2011]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1937, 16
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 68
Weimar 1972, No. 62
Basel 1974, 563, 565, 572
Chemnitz 2005, No. 6

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 218
EditorJulia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper
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
Maaz 2010 68, 69
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 220, 222, 226, 230-235, 292, 298 6 Pl. pp. 230/231
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 529, 541-548, 550, 551, 553, 555-557 6
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 192, 193 6 Figs. 97a, 97b
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
Schlegel 2003 89
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
Cat. Weimar 1992 55, 56
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 563, 565, 572
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
Exhib. Cat. Weimar 1972 B No. 62
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 68
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Dresden 1937 16
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 612
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
Schäfer 1860 1045
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
Waagen 1858 38, 39
AuthorGustav Friedrich Waagen
TitleEinige Bemerkungen über die neue Aufstellung, Beleuchtung und Catalogisierung der Königlichen Gemäldegallerie zu Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1858
Show Literature
Schuchardt 1851 C 43-44
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
  • The Idolatry of Solomon, about 1537

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

25.10.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- dry and possibly also fluid medium (brush?)

Technique:

- the underdrawing was executed using a dry material, some construction lines for the architecture and the base of the altarpiece are visible, incised lines mark the tiles, deviations from the underdrawing are noticeable on the head on the far left, which is in profile, on the heads of the three women, the hands of Solomon and on the garments of the statue of the idol.[1]

- the underdrawing is visible indicating folds in the train of the woman standing to the right of Solomon, a fluid medium may have been employed in the veil (covering the left hand), here the are changes in the right side of the face including the chin and the right sleeve

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

The underdrawing was executed using a dry material, some construction lines for the architecture and the base of the altarpiece are visible, incised lines mark the tiles, deviations from the underdrawing are noticeable on the head on the far left, which is in profile, on the heads of the three women, the hands of Solomon and on the garments of the statue of the idol.

Framing

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

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- limewood

- 1.8 cm thick

- original surface of the reverse

- five horizontal boards

- plane marks

- rebate running around the edge

- applications of tow, the areas beneath have been planed (light)

[Schlegel 2003, 89][1]

[1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Condition Reports

Date2003

Support:

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

  • convexly warped (0.5 cm)

  • woodworm damage (exit holes)

Painted surface:

  • some retouching, particularly on the head of the figure on the far right, in the background on the steps of the altarpiece on the left

  • old, glossy varnish

[Schlegel 2003, 89][1]

[Schölzel, Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Conservation History

Date1972

[GGAM, Abt. Restaurierung, Meldung]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

see also pdf

Date1874

[Sächs, HStADD, 13458 SKD, GG Nr. 8, Bd. 4, Bl. 28][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 230]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Idolatry of Solomon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1928/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Idolatry of Solomon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1928/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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