Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Titles

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

[cda 2011]

Johannes der Erste Churfürst und Herzog zu Sachßen

'Johannes der Erste Churfürst und Herzog zu Sachßen auf gleicher Arth ao 1532 gemahlt', [Inventar 1721, fol. 490, Nr. 53][1]
[1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

Churfürst friederich Sapiens und Churf. Johannes

'Churfürst friederich Sapiens und Churf. Johannes auf einer täfelein neben einander', [Inventar 1667-92, fol. 12][1] [1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

Medium

Painting on beech wood (Fagus sp.)

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29, 214]
[Klein, Report 1994]

Bust portrait of the elector facing left against a blue background. He wears a coat with a fur-collar and a white shirt, as well as a black beret.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 83]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

Production dates
1536
after 1537

Production dates

1536

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 28, 29]

after 1537

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2015, No. 83]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 20.4 x 14.5 x 0.2-0.3 cm [cda 2010]

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 20.4 x 14.5 x 0.2-0.3 cm [cda 2010]

  • (A cradle has been attached to the reverse of the panel: four horizontal battens and three vertical ones have been glued to the reverse. The panel was possibly trimmed slightly along the right edge.)

  • [Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia in the top left corner: winged serpent with dropped wings (unclear, possibly not authentic), facing right; in black paint.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia in the top left corner: winged serpent with dropped wings (unclear, possibly not authentic), facing right; in black paint.

Inscriptions and Labels
  • printed on paper and attached to the top left corner: '[Joh]ann der Erst/ Churfurst/ und Hertzog zu Sachssen'
  • Below: …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • printed on paper and attached to the top left corner:

  • '[Joh]ann der Erst/ Churfurst/ und Hertzog zu Sachssen'

    • Below: 'Nach meines lieben bruders end Bleib auff mir das gantz Regimend. Mit grosser sorg und mancher fahr Da der Bawr toll und töricht war. Die auffruhr fast inn allem land Wie gros fewr im wald entbrand. Welches ich halff dempffen mit Gott Der deutsches land errett aus not. Der Rottengeister feind ich war Hielt im land das wort rein und klar. Gros drawen bittern hass und neid Umb Gottes worts willen ich leid. Frey bedank ichs aus herzem grund Und personlich selbst ich da stund. Vor dem Keisar und gantzen reich Von Fürstengschach vor nie des gleich. Solchs gab mir mein Gott besunder Und vor der wellt was ein wunder. Umb land und leut zu bringen mich Hofft beid freund und feind gewislich. Ferdinand zu Römischem König gemacht: Und sein wahl ich allein anfacht. Auff das das alte Recht bestünd Inn der gulden Bullen gegründ. Wiewol das grossen zorn erregt Mich doch mehr recht denn gunst bewegt. Das herz gab Gott dem Keisar zart Mein guder freund zu letzt er ward. Das ich mein end in frid beschlos Dast sehr den Teuffel das verdros. Erfarn hab ichs und zeugen thar Wie uns die Schrift sagt und ist war. Wer Gott mit ernst vertrawen kan Der bleibt ein unverdorben man. Es zürne Teuffel odder welt Den sieg er doch zu letzt behelt.'

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the panel (attached to the cradle): - first vertical batten:

  • printed yellow label: 'Schlossmuseum Gotha/Inv. Nr.:/S.G. Nr.:/Alte Nr.:'; handwritten entry in black ink: Inv. Nr.: '49', and S.G. Nr.: '9'.

    • second vertical batten:

  • handwritten in red ink: 'Nr. 9'; Paper label with handwritten entry in black ink: '38/382'

    • third vertical batten:

  • handwritten in red ink: 'Zentral-Museum-Gotha'

Owner
Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
Repository
Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
Location
Gotha
CDA ID
DE_SMG_SG9
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG9/

Provenance

  • recorded in Gotha Castle before 1691 [Inventar 1667-92, fol. 12][1]
  • [Inventar 1721, fol. 490, No. 53][1]

[1][Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

Exhibitions

Gotha 1994
Gotha 2001, No. 1.11
Gotha/Kassel, No. 83

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Tacke 2021 86 Fig. 5
AuthorAndreas Tacke
TitleCranach-on-Demand. Zu Wiederholungen in der Malerei
Publicationin Dagmar Täube, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere und Hans Kemmer. Meistermaler zwischen Renaissance und Reformation [Lübeck, St. Annen-Museum]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2021
Pages83-91
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 250, 251, 344, 345 83 Pl. p. 251, Fig. p. 344 (T83)
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
Spira 2015 55
AuthorBenjamin D. Spira
TitleLucas Cranach, der Maler Luthers. Der Hofmaler und der Reformator - Bindung, Bilder und Bedeutung
Publicationin Julia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha and Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, eds., Bild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages51-62
Show Literature
Trümper 2015 22
AuthorTimo Trümper
TitleInszenierungsstrategien der Ernestiner
Publicationin Julia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha and Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, eds., Bild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages17-28
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Gotha 2001 1.11
EditorGotha Kultur, Allmuth Schuttwolf
TitleErnst der Fromme (1601-1675), Bauherr und Sammler. Katalog zum 400. Geburtstag Herzog Ernsts I. von Sachsen-Gotha und Altenburg
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication2001
Show Literature
Bünsche 1998 A 61
AuthorBernd Bünsche
TitleDie Verwendung von Lochpausen bei der Anfertigung der Fürstenportraits durch Lucas Cranach den Älteren
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, ed., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages61-64
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994 29
EditorStiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
TitleGotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature
Klein 1994 B 214
AuthorPeter Klein
TitleHolzartenbestimmung und dendrochronologische Analyse an Gemäldetafeln von Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und seiner Werkstatt
PublicationAllmuth Schuttwolf, ed., Gotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Gotha
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Pages210-219
Show Literature
Schade, Schuttwolf 1994 28, 29, 43 1.11 Fig. p. 29, Pl. p. 43
AuthorWerner Schade, Allmuth Schuttwolf
TitleMalerei und Plastik
Publicationin Allmuth Schuttwolf, ed., Gotteswort und Menschenbild. Werke von Cranach und seinen Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Gotha
Place of PublicationGotha
Year of Publication1994
Pages15-94
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

[...] A comparative example of the portrait of Johann the Steadfast in a private collection in Hamburg illustrates that the attached text on this portrait type was a field for experimentation. Instead of the black printed text on discoloured paper, which was probably originally present, it was later enhanced with gold painted lettering on black coated paper and as such classified as an upgraded version of the 'standard execution' represented in Gotha.

[Sebastian Dohe, in Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015, 250]

Connected Works

Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony
  • Friedrich III the Wise, Elector of Saxony, 1536
  • DE_SMG_SG8
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha
  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, 1536

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • conservation
  • conservation
  • conservation
  • analysis

Documents

Technical studies

04. 2010Technical 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

17.03.1994Scientific analysis

  • Identification of wood species / Dendrochronology

Support

'The panel consists of a single beechwood plank (20.8 x 14.3 cm). 58 annual rings were measured. They match the beech wood chronology between the years 1530 and 1437. The most recent annual ring dated is from the year 1530. Usually the entire transverse section was used with beech wood and only the bark was removed, therefore the earliest felling date is 1530. Considering a two year seasoning period the painting could have been created no earlier than 1532.'

[Exhib. Cat. Gotha 1994, 29]

  • analysed by Peter Klein

Conservation History

Date2000

  • conservation
  • conservation
  • conservation
  • written by Angela Möller

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG9/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMG_SG9/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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