Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

Title

Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Painting originally on wood; transferred to silk, lined with canvas and then laminated on a wooden board

Medium

Painting originally on wood; transferred to silk, lined with canvas and then laminated on a wooden board

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Philipp Melanchthon is depicted as a half-length figure sitting in front of a light grey font. He is shifted off the central axis slightly to the right and is turned slightly in the opposite direction. His head is inclined further left so that he is shown in three-quarter profile. [...]

Philipp Melanchthon is depicted as a half-length figure sitting in front of a light grey font. He is shifted off the central axis slightly to the right and is turned slightly in the opposite direction. His head is inclined further left so that he is shown in three-quarter profile. [...] He is dressed in a black fur-trimmed gown, a red doublet and white shirt and presents an open book to the viewer.

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 38] [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Production date
1559

Production date

1559

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 81.6 x 62.3 x 2.2 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 81.6 x 62.3 x 2.2 cm

  • [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

  • Dimensions of painted surface: 80.2 x 60.5 cm

  • [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia top right: winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1559'.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia top right: winged serpent with dropped wings and dated '1559'.

  • [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Inscriptions and Labels

  • in the open book, left side in greek characters; below the 1988 translation into German:
    'BASILIVS PAGINA. 388
    Es …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • in the open book, left side in greek characters; below the 1988 translation into German:

  • 'BASILIVS PAGINA. 388

  • Es sagt aber der Apostel: Wer sich rühmt, soll sich im Herrn rühmen, indem er sagt, dass Christus uns wurde Weisheit von Gott, Gerechtigkeit und Heiligung und Versöhnung, damit, wie geschrieben steht, wer sich rühmt, sich im Herrn rühme. Denn dies ist das vollkommene und vollständige Rühmen in Gott, wenn sich jemand nicht wegen seiner eigenen Gerechtigkeit erhebt, sondern wir erkennen, dass er der wahren Gerechtigkeit bedürftig ist, indem er allein durch den Glauben an Christus gerechtfertigt worden ist.

  • ANNO 1559'

    • in the open book, right side:

  • 'Nullius est foelix conatus et utilis unq[uam]

  • Consilium si non detq[ue] iuvetq[ue] Deus

  • Tunc iuvat ille aute[m], cum mens sibi [con]sciarecti,

  • Mandati officij munera iusta facit.

  • Et simul auxiliu[m] praesenti a numine Christi

  • Poscit, et expectat non dubitante fide.

  • Sic procedet opus faustum populisq[ue] tibiq[ue]

  • Diriget et cursus aura secunda tuos.

  • Invictamq[ue] Dei dextram vis nulla rep[ellet]

  • Omnia cogentur cedere prona D[eo]

  • Ipsa etiam qua[m]vis Adamanti incis[a feruntur]

  • Cum petimus cedunt fata severa Deo.

  • Nec Deus est nume[n] Parcaru[m] carcere clausum,

  • Quale putabatur Stoicus esse Deus.

  • Ipse potest Solis currus inhibere volantes,

  • lpse velut scopulos flumina stare iubet.

  • [...]e gnate Dei nostris in me[n]tib[us] adsis,

  • Et flatu accendas pecrora nostra tuo.'

  • [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse:

    • on crepe tape: 'SG 349'

  • [Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Owner
Städel Museum Frankfurt a.M.
Repository
Städel Museum Frankfurt a.M.
Location
Frankfurt am Main
CDA ID
DE_SMF_SG349
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMF_SG349/

Connected Works

Portrait of Martin Luther
  • Portrait of Martin Luther, 1559
  • DE_SMF_2320
  • Painting
  • Städel Museum Frankfurt a.M.

Provenance

  • until 1906 the property of Max Michaelis, Tandridge Court, England
  • 1906 donated by the above as a gift to the city of Frankfurt; lent to the Städtische Galerie

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Exhibitions

Halle 2002, No. II 1/37
Frankfurt/London 2007/2008, No. 124
Gotha/Kassel 2015, No. 38

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 160, 161, 343 38 Pl. p. 161, Fig. p. 343 (T38)
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
Rhein 2015 45 - 47, fn. 29 - 31
AuthorStefan Rhein
TitleLucas Cranach der Jüngere und Philipp Melanchthon. Zu den Spuren einer Wittenberger Beziehung
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages42-51
Show Literature
Wadum 2015 195, Fn. 10, 196, Fn. 17
AuthorJorgen Wadum
TitleCranach, His Sons, and Their Workshop. the Never-ending Problem of Hands (Part I)
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages191-199
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Frankfurt 2007 382-383 124 p. 383
EditorBodo Brinkmann
TitleCranach der Ältere, [Frankfurt, Städel Museum, 23 Nov 2007 - 17 Feb 2008]
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Cat. Frankfurt 2005 247-255
AuthorStephan Kemperdick, Bodo Brinkmann
EditorStädelsches Kunstinstitut
TitleDeutsche Gemälde im Städel 1500 - 1550
Place of PublicationMainz
Year of Publication2005
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Halle 2002 160-161 II 1/37
EditorGunnar Berg
TitleEmporium: 500 Jahre Universität Halle-Wittenberg. Landesausstellung Sachsen-Anhalt 2002
Place of PublicationHalle
Year of Publication2002
Show Literature
Cat. Frankfurt 1999 30 pl. 23
AuthorBodo Brinkmann, Jochen Sander
TitleDeutsche Gemälde vor 1800 im Städel
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
Year of Publication1999
Show Literature
Scheible 1998 93
AuthorHeinz Scheible
TitlePhilipp Melanchthon. Leben und Werk in Bildern
Place of PublicationKarlsruhe
Year of Publication1998
Show Literature
Behrends 1997 131
AuthorRainer Behrends
Title"VIVITUR . INGENIO . CAETERA . MORTIS ERVNT". Philipp Melanchthon in Bildnissen des 16. Jahrhunderts
Publicationin, Philipp Melanchthon und Leipzig
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1997
Pages115-140
Show Literature
Scheible 1995 103-105
AuthorHeinz Scheible
TitlePhilipp Melanchthon. Eine Gestalt der Reformationszeit
Place of PublicationKarlsruhe
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Ursprung 1988 9-15
AuthorMichael-Rene Ursprung
TitleIn der Betrachtung. Schulbegleitbuch über Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik des Städelschen Kunstinstituts und der Städtischen Galerie
Volume2
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
Year of Publication1988
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 291, 719 under Nos. 170, 647
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
Schade 1974 103-104
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Wolters 1938 128, 129 Figs. 83, 84
AuthorChristian Wolters
TitleDie Bedeutung der Gemäldedurchleuchtung mit Röntgenstrahlen für die Kunstgeschichte. Dargestellt an Beispielen aus der niederländischen und deutschen Malerei des 15. und 16. Jahrhunderts
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur Kunstgeschichte
Volume3
Place of PublicationFrankfurt am Main
Year of Publication1938
Show Literature
Wehlte 1932 224-226
AuthorKurt Wehlte
TitleRöntgenologische Gemäldeuntersuchungen im Städelschen Kunstinstitut
JournalStädel-Jahrbuch
Issue7-8
Year of Publication1932
Pages220-227
Show Literature
Wolters 1932 237-240
AuthorAlfred Wolters
TitleAnmerkungen zu einigen Röntgenaufnahmen nach Gemälden des Städelschen Kunstinstituts
JournalStädel-Jahrbuch
Issue7/8
Year of Publication1932
Pages228-240
Show Literature
  • Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon, 1559

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Documents

Technical studies

09. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- dry drawing material (dark chalk)

Type/Ductus:

- relatively detailed underdrawing, both freehand and copied (traced)

- fine lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate the main contours and define facial features; no representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Abweichungen:

- almost no alterations made during the painting process to clearly define forms; no changes

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger or workshop ?

Comments:

- probably transferred (traced) from a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2015]

  • photographed by Städel Museum Frankfurt a.M.

2005Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Support

Originally on wood, after the Second World War transferred to silk, this was lined with canvas and laminated onto a modern wooden board. The original wood species cannot therefore be classified.

Underdrawing

An underdrawing possibly executed in pen is perhaps visible along the contours in the areas of flesh paint . It is most apparent on the nose; the curve of the left nostril is greater in the underdrawing than in the final painted version.

Paint Layers and Gilding

The painted edge has been retained on all four sides. The silk is waxed in an olive green colour at the edge of the panel.

Framing

modern

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

2005 - Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

19.02.1996Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

transferred to canvas

  • analysed by Peter Klein

1932Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • X-radiography

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Condition Reports

Date2005

Moderate. Over a luminous restorer's varnish there are large areas of retouching on the contour of the right forehead, above the left eyebrow and on the left cheek of the sitter, on the nose as well as the fur-trimming of the cloak. There is another area of retouching c. 15 cm in height and 5-7 cm in width at the left in the background, as well as numerous point retouches at the right in the background.

[Cat. Frankfurt 2005, 247-255]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMF_SG349/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Philipp Melanchthon', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMF_SG349/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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