The Adoration of the Magi

The Adoration of the Magi

Title

The Adoration of the Magi

[Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

Painting on fir

Medium

Painting on fir

[Klein, Report 2013]
[Klein, Report 2008]
[Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

The viewer is brought close to the events in the stable of Bethlehem. The Virgin holds the Child on her lap. The old king kneels bare-headed in front of him and holds a golden container towards the Child. Standing behind him is the coloured king, who also holds a precious

The viewer is brought close to the events in the stable of Bethlehem. The Virgin holds the Child on her lap. The old king kneels bare-headed in front of him and holds a golden container towards the Child. Standing behind him is the coloured king, who also holds a precious container in his hands, like the third king. He already holds his hat in front of his chest and bows to give the Child his present, which is in a golden goblet with a lid. On the horizon in the far background the annunciation to the shepherds is visible.

[Görres, cda 2012]

Attributions
Follower or copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Follower or copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Heydenreich, cda 2011]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

Production dates
about 1600 or later
late 1520s or 1530s

Production dates

about 1600 or later

[Heydenreich, cda, 2011]

late 1520s or 1530s

[Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 86 x 57 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 86 x 57 cm

  • [Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

Signature / Dating

There might be an artist's insignia and date on the stone wall [not genuine, cda 2023, vgl.]

Signature / Dating

Inscriptions and Labels

Reverse of the panel: - bottom right:
white label with a black boarder:
'Staatl. Kunsthalle Karlsruhe Standort: [1] …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel: - bottom right:

  • white label with a black boarder:

  • 'Staatl. Kunsthalle Karlsruhe Standort: [1] 15 [2]'

    • beside the above:

  • yellow label with a black boader:

  • 'Depot [2]

  • Badisches Kunsthalle Karlsruhe [1]

  • Fot. [2]

  • Inv. Nr. [1] 812. Cranach-Werkst. [2]

  • Geprüft 1936 [last figure handwritten]

  • Drei Könige [2]'

  • [1] printed

  • [2] handwritten

  • [Görres, cda 2012]

Owner
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
Repository
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
Location
Karlsruhe
CDA ID
DE_SKK_0812
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKK_0812/

Provenance

  • transferred from the collection of the Archduke in 1890. Probably from the collectionof the Margrave of Baden; possibly from the collection of the Margravine Sibylla Augusta, which had numerous of paintings by Cranach and in which two depictions of 'The Adorationof the Magi' are recorded, however without attribution(Inventory from 1692)
    [Renner 1941, 187f., 189][1]
    [1][Cat. Karlsruhe 1966, 93]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Schuttwolf 2011 061
AuthorAllmuth Schuttwolf
TitleVerlustdokumentation der Gothaer Kunstsammlungen. Die Gemäldesammlung
Volume2
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication2011
Show Literature
Cat. Karlsruhe 1966 93
AuthorJan Lauts
TitleStaatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. Katalog Alter Meister bis 1800
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationKarlsruhe
Year of Publication1966
Show Literature
Kircher 1949 532
AuthorGerda Franziska Kircher
TitleNeue Forschungen zur Porträt- und Sammlungsgeschichte der Zähringer
JournalZeitschrift für die Geschichte des Oberrheins
Issue97 (NF 58), 1949
Year of Publication1949
Pages498
Show Literature
Renner 1941 187f., 189
AuthorAnna Maria Renner
TitleDie Kunstinventare der Markgrafen von Baden-Baden
Place of PublicationBühl-Baden
Year of Publication1941
Show Literature
  • The Adoration of the Magi, about 1600 or later

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • detail
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Documents

Technical studies

08.04.2013Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

Identification of wood species: fir (Abies sp.)

  • analysed by Peter Klein

07. 2011Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

2011Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Paint Layers and Gilding

- the paint application does not correspond with Lucas Cranach's workshop practice (e.g. the red velvet robe is not over a black underpaint, the flesh paint is executed with unusual grey shadows, see also the infrared reflectogram)

[Heydenreich, cda 2011]

Versions

Adoration of the Magi
  • Adoration of the Magi, about 1600 or later
  • DE_BE_NONE-BE002
  • Painting
  • Dr. Karl Graf von und zu Eltz-Kempenich
The Adoration of the Magi
  • The Adoration of the Magi, about 1600 or later
  • DE_HMB_5
  • Painting
  • Museen der Stadt Bamberg
Adoration of the Magi
  • Adoration of the Magi, after 1520
  • RU_SMBKPM_924
  • Painting
  • The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow
The Adoration of the Magi
  • The Adoration of the Magi, after 1600 or later
  • PRIVATE_NONE-P622
  • Painting
  • Private Collection

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Adoration of the Magi', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKK_0812/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Adoration of the Magi', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SKK_0812/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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