David and Bathsheba

David and Bathsheba

Title

David and Bathsheba

[CDA 2011]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Assisted by her maids Bathsheba bathes her feet at the edge of the waters where she is seated. King David who can be identified by his harp watches the scene from the distance on his balcony. The maid shown at the right edge from behind looks over her shoulder with

Assisted by her maids Bathsheba bathes her feet at the edge of the waters where she is seated. King David who can be identified by his harp watches the scene from the distance on his balcony. The maid shown at the right edge from behind looks over her shoulder with a conspiratorial gaze at the viewer.

[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, 224]
[Koepplin, Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974, 572]
[Waagen 1958, 612, 613][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 226]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

'Atelierbild'
[Schäfer, Cat. Dresden 1960, 1043][1]
'Atelierbild'
[Schuchardt 1851 A, Bd. 2 No. 43][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 226]

Production date
about 1537

Production date

about 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 74 x 121 x 1.6 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 74 x 121 x 1.6 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia left (on a corner stone): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia left (on a corner stone): winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel:
[Gal.-Nr.]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 45'; in blue chalk: '-99'; in black paint: '15'

Reverse …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel:

  • [Gal.-Nr.]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 45'; in blue chalk: '-99'; in black paint: '15'

  • Reverse of the frame: [Exhibition label: Basel 1974];

  • [Exhibition label: Weimar]

  • [Schlegel 2003, 95][1]

  • [1][Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1930
FR (1978) Nr.
FR357D
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1930/

Provenance

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

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

  • first recorded in the Gemäldegalerie in Matthäi's catalogue of the collection from the year 1835
    [Matthäi, Cat. Dresden 1835, Bd. 1, No. 143][1]

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

[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 228]
[2][Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2011]

Exhibitions

Dresden 1937, 16
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 67
Weimar 1972, No. 61
Basel 1974, 572, 577
Hamburg 2003, 147
Torgau 2004, Bd. 1 No. 216
Chemnitz 2005, No. 5

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 202, fn 12 under no. 44
AuthorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleCranach in Coburg. Gemälde von Lucas Cranach d.Ä., Lucas Cranach d.J., der Werkstatt und des Umkreises in den Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2018
Show Literature
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 82, 83
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 220, 222, 224-229, 232, 298 5 Pl. pp. 224/225
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, 559 5
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
Exhib. Cat. Torgau 2004 No. 216
EditorHarald Marx, Eckhard Kluth, Cecilie Hollberg
TitleGlaube und Macht. Sachsen im Europa der Reformationszeit. 2. Sächsische Landesaussellung Schloss Hartenfels Torgau
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003 147
EditorBucerius Kunst Forum, Werner Schade
TitleLucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne [Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg]
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Show Literature
Koepplin 2003 C 147
AuthorDieter Koepplin
TitleEin Cranach-Prinzip
Publicationin Heinz Spielmann, Werner Schade, eds., Lucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne, Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Pages144-165
Show Literature
Schlegel 2003 95-97
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 57-59 No. 18
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 141 No. 357D
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 572, 577
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. 61
EditorSchlossmuseum Weimar
TitleLucas Cranach 1472-1553. Ein großer Maler in bewegter Zeit
Place of PublicationWeimar
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Kunoth-Leifels 1962 29-32
AuthorElisabeth Kunoth-Leifels
TitleÜber die Darstellungen der "Bathseba im Bade". Studien zur Geschichte des Bildthemas, 4. bis 17. Jahrhundert
Place of PublicationEssen
Year of Publication1962
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 No. 67
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 37
AuthorGertrude Rudloff-Hille
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. Eine Einführung in sein Leben und sein Werk.
Place of PublicationDresden
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
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 288d
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
Glaser 1923 234
AuthorCurt Glaser
TitleLukas Cranach
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1923
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/glaser1923
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1887 612, 613
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 1043, 1044
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
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
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. 143 (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
  • David and Bathsheba, 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

19.09.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- fluid

Technique:

- a few lines executed with a brush, which are only clearly visible where the painted version deviates from the underdrawing, e.g. on the chain of the second woman from the right, on the right leg of the woman washing Bathsheba’s foot and on the cheek of the woman in slippers; the contours of the forms are sketched economically [1]

- woman who washes Bathsheba's feet: contours of the back of the head, line indicating her cleavage, two contours of the left and right underarm

- Architecture: grid-like lines at the front of the balcony at the top left of the painting

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme
  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel

2005 - Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

A few lines executed with a brush, which are only clearly visible where the painted version deviates from the underdrawing, e.g. on the chain of the second woman from the right, on the right leg of the woman washing Bathsheba’s foot and on the cheek of the woman in slippers; the contours of the forms are sketched economically

Framing

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

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- limewood

- 1.6 cm thick

- original surface on the reverse

- five horizontal boards

- plane marks

- rebate running around the edge

[Schlegel 2003, 95-97][1]

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Condition Reports

Date2003 -

Support:

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

  • convexly warped

  • woodworm damage (exit holes)

Painted surface:

  • isolated, small retouches in the river

  • areas of abrasion and small paint loss along the edges of the craquelée in the centre of the painting

  • old, yellowed varnish

[Schlegel 2003, 95][1]

[Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 224]

Conservation History

Date2004

  • in preparation for the exhibition in Torgau (frame)

see pdf

Date1970

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

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 205, 224]

see also pdf

Date1967

[GGAM, Abt. Restaurierung][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 205, 224]

see also pdf

Date1874

[Sächs, HStADD, 13458 SKD, GG Nr. 8, Bd. 4, Bl. 22][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 205, 224]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'David and Bathsheba', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1930/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'David and Bathsheba', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1930/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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