The sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies

The sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies

Titles

The sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies

[CDA 2011]

The sleeping Hercules, attacked by Pygmies

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 74]

Der Riese mit den Pigmaen

[Inventar 1722-1728, A 1337-1339][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 412, 423, Fn. 3]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

On his way to accomplish his tenth labour, the stealing of Geryon's cattle, Hercules arrived in Libya, where exhausted after a battle with the giant Antaeus he fell asleep. While sleeping he was attacked by pygmies, who were however unable to harm him. Lucas Cranach the Younger transposes the myth

On his way to accomplish his tenth labour, the stealing of Geryon's cattle, Hercules arrived in Libya, where exhausted after a battle with the giant Antaeus he fell asleep. While sleeping he was attacked by pygmies, who were however unable to harm him. Lucas Cranach the Younger transposes the myth to a Saxon setting in the second half of the sixteenth century. Accordingly he depicts the pygmies as small figures in contemporary military clothing and heavily armed.

[http://skd-online-collection.skd.museum/de/contents/showArtist?id=247489; 14.07.2015] (Translation, cda 2016)

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Production date
1551

Production date

1551

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 179 x 259 x 1.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 179 x 259 x 1.8 cm

  • [Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom right (on the stone): winged serpent with dropped wings facing left and dated '1551'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom right (on the stone): winged serpent with dropped wings facing left and dated '1551'

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr., repeated]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 39.'; in white chalk (parrtially illegible): '11; 48, …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr., repeated]; Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz (repeated): 'Inv. 39.'; in white chalk (parrtially illegible): '11; 48, 0, 2, 4; 8 [?], 29/'; [Exhibition label: Berlin 1937], in red chalk: '33'

  • Reverse of the frame:

  • [Sammlungsnachweis Pillnitz]

  • [Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1943
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1943/

Connected Works

The awakened Hercules and the Pygmies
  • The awakened Hercules and the Pygmies, 1551
  • DE_SKD_GG1944
  • Painting
  • Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

Provenance

  • the Hercules series was part of the earliest decoration in the Dresden palace (Residenzschloss )

  • seen by the diplomate Philipp Hainhofer (1578-1647), who visited Dresden in 1617 and 1629
    [Doring 1901, 208][1]
    [Hainhofer 1617, 138][1]

  • [Inventar 1722-28, A 1337-1339][2]

  • 1835-1855 in the gallery in the Jüdenhof

  • Sempergalerie

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 412]
[1] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 412, 423, Fn. 1]
[2] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 412, 423, Fn. 3]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, No. 135, 136
Dresden 1937, No. 1943, 1944
Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 53, 54
Basel 1974, No. 469
Torgau 2004, Bd 1, No. 364, 365
Chemnitz 2005, No. 33.1

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 137, Fn. 74
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
Aikema 2010 28
AuthorBernard Aikema
TitleCranach. A different Renaissance
Publicationin Anna Coliva, Bernhard Aikema, eds., Cranach l'altro rinascimento, a different Renaissance, Exhib.Cat. Rome
Place of PublicationRome
Year of Publication2010
Pages13-33
Show Literature
Maaz 2010 86, 89
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Schauerte 2010 38
AuthorThomas Schauerte
TitleDie deutschen Apelliden. Anmerkungen zu humanistischen und nationalen Aspekten in höfischen Bildwerken der Dürerzeit
Publicationin Matthias Müller, Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, eds., Apelles am Fürstenhof. Facetten der Hofkunst um 1500 im Alten Reich Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2010
Pages35-43
Show Literature
Müller 2009 A
AuthorJürgen Müller
TitleMoritz von Sachsen als 'Hercules germanicus'. Zur Deutung der Herkulestafeln Lukas Cranach d. J.
Publicationin Andreas Henning, ed., "Man könnt vom Paradies nicht angenehmer träumen", Festschrift für Prof. Dr. Harald Marx
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Link http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/volltexte/2011/1545
Pages50-57
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 408, 409, 412-423 33.1 Pl. pp. 408, 409
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 117, 130, 132, 152, 153, 167 33.1
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 534, 543-544, 547, 549, 550, 552, 553, 557, 559 33.1
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
Marx, Mössinger, Roth 2005 12
AuthorHarald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Martin Roth
TitleVorwort
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, ed., Cranach. Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages10-17
Show Literature
Schölzel 2005 196 33.2
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
Exhib. Cat. Torgau 2004 Nos. 364, 365 (Bd. 1)
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
Koepplin 2003 C 162, Fn. 11
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
Kolb 2002
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleDie Rezeption Dürers durch Lucas Cranach den Jüngeren am Beispiel des erwachten Herkules
JournalDresdener Kunstblätter
Issue46
Year of Publication2002
Pages118-126
Show Literature
Weber 2002 37, 38
AuthorGregor J. M. Weber
TitleDie Sammlung Ferrareser Malerei in Dresden
Publicationin Gregor J. M. Weber, ed., Der Triumph des Bacchus. Meisterwerke Ferrareser Malerei in Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Dresden, Ferrara
Place of PublicationTurin, London, Venice
Year of Publication2002
Pages37-48
Show Literature
Cat. Weimar 1992 No. 26
AuthorHelga Hoffmann
EditorKunstsammlungen zu Weimar
TitleKunstsammlungen zu Weimar. Die deutschen Gemälde des XVI. Jahrhunderts
Place of PublicationFulda
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Schade 1974 91, 92
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Schade 1968 A 35
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleMaler am Hof Moritz' von Sachsen
JournalZeitschrift des deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft
Issue27 (1968)
Year of Publication1968
Pages1-2, 29-44
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 Nos. 53, 54
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 41, 42
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. Berlin 1937 48, 49 135 Pl. 102
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 No. 1943
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 1930 A 55
AuthorHans Posse
TitleDie Staatliche Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden. Herausgegeben im Auftrage des Ministeriums für Volksbildung. Katalog der alten Meister. Kleine Ausgabe
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1930
Show Literature
Seidlitz 1921 185
AuthorWoldemar von Seidlitz
TitleDie Kunst in Dresden vom Mittelalter bis zur Neuzeit. Bd. I: 1464-1625
Volume1
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1921
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1887 616, 617
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 392, 393
AuthorMartin Bernhard Lindau
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Lebensbild aus dem Zeitalter der Reformation
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1883
Show Literature
Schäfer 1860 1000, 1004
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 45
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. 106-108
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 sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies, 1551

Images

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Documents

Technical studies

18.09.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- dry

Technique:

- economic underdrawing in a dry material (concentrated on the contours and a few main features within the forms); some minimal deviations in the painted version, for example on the bridge of the nose and the contours of the head of the pygmy with the fur hat, on the hand, the toes and the belly button of the figure of Hercules and the tip of the lance held by the pygmy on the right [1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel
  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

Economic underdrawing in a dry material (concentrated on the contours and a few main features within the forms); some minimal deviations in the painted version, for example on the bridge of the nose and the contours of the head of the pygmy with the fur hat, on the hand, the toes and the belly button of the figure of Hercules and the tip of the lance held by the pygmy on the right.

Framing

New frame: 18th century Dresden gallery frame, reworked

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • reverse

Support

- 1.8 cm thick

- original surface on the reverse

- nine horizontally aligned boards

- marks from a block plane

- rebate running around all four sides

- joins reinforced with tow and cloth strips

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

1990Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

Economic underdrawing of the contours

[Hoffmann, Cat. Weimar 1992, 74]

  • photographed by Bernd Konrad

03. 1969Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Idnetification of wood species:

- limewood

  • examined by Heinz Dittrich

Condition Reports

Date2005

Support:

  • the joins have been reinforced with 24 beech wood dovetails in three rows, two bars (pine wood)

  • split on the left edge has been reinforced with two dovetails and covered with a canvas strip

  • two horizontal battens have been screwed onto the reverse, the surface has been planed smooth beneath (light), coins (10 Reichspfennig) were employed as washers under the screws

  • woodworm damage, particularly in the dovetails (exit holes)

Painted surface:

  • retouching, particularly along the joins

  • some small blistering and paint loss, particularly in the bottom half of the painting

  • old, evenly yellowed varnish

[Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Conservation History

Date2004

  • in preparation for an exhibition (frame)

see pdf

Date1987

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

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Date1970

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

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

see also pdf

Date1880

[Hübner, Cat. Dresden 1880, 416][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Date1861

[Sächs. HStADD, 13458 SKD, GG Nr. 8, Bd. 3, Bl. 113/114][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Date1838

[GGAM, Matthäi 1835 handwritten annotation, 24][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 408]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1943/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The sleeping Hercules with the Pygmies', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1943/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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