Portrait of Martin Luther from the so-called family register(?)

Portrait of Martin Luther from the so-called family register(?)

Painting on parchment

Medium

Painting on parchment
an illumination over a dry, black drawing material, heightened with white and gold (shell gold), borderline in gold (gold leaf) and a decorative architectural frame

[Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026]

See German version

[cda 2026]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026] [Bock, Cat. Berlin 1921, 21, no. 398]

Dating
1543

Dating

1543

[Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 365 x 246 mm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 365 x 246 mm

  • [Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026]

Inscriptions

bottom left, pen in white (lead white, blackened): winged serpent between the date '1525'; date, bottom right, pen in …

Inscriptions

Inscriptions:

  • bottom left, pen in white (lead white, blackened): winged serpent between the date '1525'; date, bottom right, pen in gold (shell gold): '1542' (abraded); top centre, pen in brown (iron gall ink), 'Luterus'; on the frame, top centre pen (?), 'Luterus' (?) (overpainted)

  • [Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026]

Labels

Verso, centre, collection stamp in black ink: Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin [Lugt 1612a]
[Kupferstichkabinett, …

Labels

later inscription, stamps, seals, labels:

  • Verso, centre, collection stamp in black ink: Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin [Lugt 1612a]

  • [Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz 2026]

Owner
Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Repository
Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Location
Berlin
CDA ID
DE_SMBKSK_KdZ398
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMBKSK_KdZ398/

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Berlin 1931 B 498 1049
EditorReichsdruckerei Berlin
TitleDie Reichsdrucke. Eine Sammlung von Kupferstichen, Radierungen, Holzschnitten, Gemälden, Aquarellen und Pastellen in Nachbildungen der Reichsdruckerei zu Berlin. Erster Nachtrag zum Hauptkatalog
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1931
Show Literature
Cat. Berlin 1921 21 398
AuthorElfried Bock
TitleDie Zeichnungen alter Meister im Kupferstichkabinett. Die deutschen Meister. Beschreibendes Verzeichnis sämtlicher Zeichnungen, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1921
Link https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/bock1921ga
Show Literature
Mecheln 1814
EditorChristian von Mecheln
TitleLucas Cranachs Stammbuch, enthaltend die von ihm in Miniatur gemalte Abbildung des den Segen erteilenden Heilandes und die Bildnisse der vorzüglichsten Fürsten und Gelehrten aus Reformationsgeschichte
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1814
Link https://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/details:bsb11708099
Show Literature
  • Portrait of Martin Luther from the so-called family register(?), 1543

Images

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License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Technical studies

2026Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Support

on parchment

Process, Medium

The portrait was executed on a sheet of parchment as a miniature designed to illustrate a manuscript. Infrared reflectography (IRR) reveals an initial outline in a dry, black drawing material, particularly in the face, hands and feet.

A reaction with sulphur has caused the lead white highlights on the blue balusters to blacken.

[Georg Josef Dietz, including the results of infrared examination by Gunnar Heydenreich and the joint investigation with Mailena Mallach, Luise Maul and Dominika Ropers (née Wojciechowska), March 2026]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Martin Luther from the so-called family register(?)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMBKSK_KdZ398/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Martin Luther from the so-called family register(?)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMBKSK_KdZ398/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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