The Holy Trinity

The Holy Trinity

Title

The Holy Trinity

[CDA 2011]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

The heart-shaped panel shows Christ lying on god the Father's lap; both are encircled by a band of clouds in which putti are represented holding the instruments of the Passion. The Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove hovering above Christ.

[Görres, cda 2016]

Attributions
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger
Follower of Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]
[Woermann, Cat. Dresden 1887, 619][1]
[Distel 1878, 612][2]

[1] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 374, 376, Fn. 3]
[2][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 374, 376, Fn. 4]

Follower of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Posse] ab 1912[1]
[1] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 374]

Heinrich Göding the Elder

[Seidlitz 1893, 378][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 375, 376, Fn. 5]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

'?'
[Hübner 1880][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Production date
about 1584 (?)

Production date

about 1584 (?)

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 85 x 74.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 85 x 74.5 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Signature / Dating

None

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr., repeated]; in black printed capitals: 'Inv. 648'

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: [Gal.-Nr., repeated]; in black printed capitals: 'Inv. 648'

  • [Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Owner
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Repository
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Location
Dresden
CDA ID
DE_SKD_GG1953
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1953/

Provenance

  • 1879 transferred from the castle of Colditz to the Dresden Galerie

[Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 374]

Exhibitions

Nuremberg 1997, 171
Chemnitz 2005, No. 28

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Koepplin 2017 34, 37 Fn. 66, 68, 69
AuthorDieter Koepplin
TitleLucas Cranach Herz-Holzschnitt von 1505, betrachtet im Sinne des Johannes von Staupitz
Publicationin Gunnar Heydenreich, Daniel Görres, Beat Wismer, eds., Lucas Cranach der Ältere. Meister - Marke - Moderne. [Exhib. Cat. Düsseldorf 2017]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2017
Pages28-37
Show Literature
Grebe 2015 322, 323, 328 Fig. 3
AuthorAnja Grebe
TitleDas 'sprechende' Retabel. Neue Überlegungen zum Colditzer Altar Lucas Cranachs des Jüngeren
Publicationin Elke E. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages318-329
Show Literature
Maaz 2010 94, 95
AuthorBernhard Maaz
TitleCranach in der Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister Dresden
Place of PublicationBerlin, Munich
Year of Publication2010
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 372-377 28 Pl. p. 373
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 533, 550, 552, 553 28
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 197 28 Figs. 101a, 101b
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
Schulze 2004 219
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
Cat. Nuremberg 1997 171
AuthorKurt Löcher
TitleDie Gemälde des 16. Jahrhunderts. Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Zimmermann E. H. 1953 214, 215
AuthorErnst Heinrich Zimmermann
TitleBeiträge zum Werk Lucas Cranachs d. J.
JournalZeitschrift für Kunstwissenschaft
IssueVol. 7, 3/4
Year of Publication1953
Pages209-215
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1912 198
AuthorHans Posse
TitleKatalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden. Kleine Ausgabe
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1912
Link https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/dresden1912/0009/image,info,thumbs
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1896 637
AuthorKarl Woermann
TitleKatalog der Königlichen Gemäldegalerie zu Dresden. Grosse Ausgabe
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1896
Link https://archive.org/details/katalogderknigli1896geml/page/n3/mode/2up
Show Literature
Seidlitz 1893 378
AuthorWoldemar von Seidlitz
TitleZu den echten Bildern des älteren Cranach
JournalRepertorium für Kunstwissenschaft
Issue16
Year of Publication1893
Pages377-378
Show Literature
Cat. Dresden 1887 619
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
Cat. Dresden 1880 No. 1949
AuthorJulius Hübner
TitleVerzeichniss der Königlichen Gemälde-Gallerie zu Dresden. Mit einer historischen Einleitung, Notizen über die Erwerbung, Angabe der Bezeichnung der einzelnen Bilder und einem Preis-Verzeichnis der verkäuflichen Kupferstiche nach Gemälde der Galerie
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1880
Link https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x000768110&view=1up&seq=5
Show Literature
Leipziger Zeitung 1878 612
Authorn. a.
TitleWissenschaftliche Beilage der Leipziger Zeitung
JournalLeipziger Zeitung
IssueNo. 101 (1878)
Year of Publication1878
Show Literature
  • The Holy Trinity, about 1584 (?)

Images

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

Documents

Technical studies

01.11.2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

Results

Drawing material:

- dry (chalk)

Technique:

- underdrawing executed with a dry material (chalk), varying in density and intensity; the figure of Christ is indicated with a few, partially correcting strokes, the folds of the robe beneath the figure of Christ are executed with lively strokes, which are not binding for the painted version, simple hatching-strokes or loose zig-zag lines indicate the parts of the painting, which are to appear darker; the angels are drawn with dense and precise lines, which at times appear tentative; hatching-strokes indicate areas of shadow; minimal corrections in the drawing and few deviations in the subsequent painted version, for example on the left arm of the angel carrying the cross [1]

- further underdrawing visible in the tail of the dove (lines in part not executed in paint), right arm of the angel carrying the cross

- Pentimento: the knot on God the Father's belt was initially slightly larger

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

[Böhme, Schölzel, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 2012]

  • photographed by Christoph Schölzel
  • photographed by Alexandra Böhme

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

Underdrawing executed with a dry material (chalk), varying in density and intensity; the figure of Christ is indicated with a few, partially correcting strokes, the folds of the robe beneath the figure of Christ are executed with lively strokes, which are not binding for the painted version, simple hatching-strokes or loose zig-zag lines indicate the parts of the painting, which are to appear darker; the angels are drawn with dense and precise lines, which at times appear tentative; hatching-strokes indicate areas of shadow; minimal corrections in the drawing and few deviations in the subsequent painted version, for example on the left arm of the angel carrying the cross.

Framing

New frame: profiled black frame, 19th century

[Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

2003Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • other
  • reverse

Support

- heart-shaped

- four boards vertically aligned

- marks from a toothed plane

[Schlegel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Condition Reports

Date2005

Support:

  • 0.5 cm thick (thinned)

  • cradle consisting of nine vertical battens and six horizontal battens (pine wood)

  • marks from a saw on all edges of the panel

  • reddish glaze on the cradle and the reverse of the panel

Painted surface:

  • abrasion in the paint layers, particularly in the figure of Christ and the head and beard of God the Father

  • retouches spread across the whole image, particularly in Christ's loincloth, which is completely overpainted

  • glossy varnish

[Schlegel, Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Conservation History

Date1996

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

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

see also pdf

Date1880

[Sächs. HStADD, 13458 SKD, GG Nr. 8, Bd. 8 a, Bd. 5, Bl. 23][1]

[1][Schölzel, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 372]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Holy Trinity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1953/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Holy Trinity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKD_GG1953/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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