The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann]

The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann]

Title

The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann]

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 128]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1997, 90]

After a long period of drought and famine the prophet Elijah challenged King Ahab, who had fallen away from the God of Israel, to a contest: he and the priests of Baal should each pray for the heavenly ignition of a burnt offering. Whoevers God sends the fire should be

After a long period of drought and famine the prophet Elijah challenged King Ahab, who had fallen away from the God of Israel, to a contest: he and the priests of Baal should each pray for the heavenly ignition of a burnt offering. Whoevers God sends the fire should be considered the true God. Elijah repeatedly poured water over his own sacrificial animals and the altar. God answered Elijah's prayer and sent fire to his offerings; the altar of the priests of Baal remained without fire. The murder of the priests of Baal after their defeat is shown in the background.

At the top right we see Elijah on Mount Carmel requesting the long desired rain, his boys look out for approaching clouds.

[Ulrike Dura, Cat. Leipzig 2006, 128]

Balthasar Hoffmann knees in prayer on the left, accompanied by his five sons, living and deceased. On the right the painting depicts Hoffmann's two deceased wifes and his four daughters.

[cda 2014]

Attribution
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Leipzig 2006, 128] '?' [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 242]

Production dates
1552-1557
after 1552

Production dates

1552-1557

[Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1997, 90]

after 1552

[Stadtgeschichtliches Museum Leipzig, 2010] [Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005, 242]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 124 x 171 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 124 x 171 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1997, 90]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Leipzig
Repository
Stadtgeschichtliches Museum, Leipzig
Location
Leipzig
CDA ID
DE_SML_kK14
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK14/

Provenance

  • 1815 rediscovered in the Nikolaikirche, Leipzig
  • 1891 recorded in the catalogue of the municipal museum (Städtischen Museum) at that time under Inv. No. 608 as a work by Cranach the Younger
  • 1910 the painting was transferred to the Stadtgeschichtliche Museum

[Exhib. Cat. Leipzig, Heidelberg 1997, 90]

Exhibitions

  • Weimar, Wittenberg 1953, No. 55
  • Leipzig 1965, No. 91
  • Karlsruhe 1991, No. 29
  • Leipzig, Heidelberg 1997, pp. 90-91

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini 2015 137, 138, Fn. 75
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich, Ingo Sandner, Helen Smith-Contini
TitleVeränderungen beim Unterzeichnen in Cranachs Werkstatt und die Arbeitsweise von Sohn Lucas
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Link https://lucascranach.org/application/files/5215/6337/7366/Heydenreich_Sandner_Smith-Contini_2015_-_Unterzeichnung.pdf
Pages128-141
Show Literature
Cat. Leipzig 2006 125-126
AuthorVolker Rodekamp
TitleLeipzig original: Stadtgeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Völkerschlacht. Katalog zur Dauerausstellung des Stadtgeschichtlichen Museums Leipzig im Alten Rathaus. Teil I
Place of PublicationAltenburg
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Böhlitz 2005 40, 41 Pl. 13
AuthorMichael Böhlitz
TitleAltargemälde von Lucas Cranach dem Älteren, Lucas Cranach dem Jüngeren und ihren Schülern im Chemnitzer Raum
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, ed., Cranach. Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages18-43
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 242 under No. 7 Fig. 117
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
Exhib. Cat. Torgau 2004 27-32
EditorHarald Marx, Eckhard Kluth, Cecilie Hollberg
TitleGlaube und Macht. Sachsen im Europa der Reformationszeit. 2. Sächsische Landesaussellung Schloss Hartenfels Torgau
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Schulze 2004 59-65
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
Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1997 90-91
AuthorHerwig Guratzsch, Gisela Goldberg
TitleVergessene altdeutsche Gemälde. 1815 auf dem Dachboden der Leipziger Nikolaikirche gefunden
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Cat. Leipzig 1995 227 608
EditorHerwig Guratzsch
TitleBestandskatalog, Museum der bildenden Künste
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Magirius et al. 1995 840
AuthorHeinrich Magirius, Hartmut Mai, Thomas Trajkovits, Winfried Werner
EditorLandesamt für Denkmalpflege Sachsen
TitleDie Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler von Sachsen. Stadt Leipzig. Die Sakralbauten I. Mit einem Überblick über die städtebauliche Entwicklung von den Anfängen bis 1989
Place of PublicationMunich, Berlin
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Karlsruhe 1991 29
AuthorDieter Gleisberg
EditorStädtische Galerie im Prinz-Max-Palais, Karlsruhe
TitleKunstschätze aus Sachsen. Meisterwerke aus Leipziger Museen vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, [Städtische Galerie im Prinz-Max-Palais, Karlsruhe]
Place of PublicationKarlsruhe
Year of Publication1991
Show Literature
Fischer 1978 232
AuthorGerhard Fischer
TitleAus zwei Jahrhunderten Lepziger Handelsgeschichte 1470-1650
Place of PublicationLeipzig
IssueRe-issue
Year of Publication1978
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1965 91
Authorn. a.
Title500 Jahre Kunst in Leipzig. Ausstellung zur 800-Jahrfeier der Stadt Leipzig[Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig]
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1965
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Weimar, Wittenberg 1953 55
AuthorWalther Scheidig
EditorDeutsche Lucas Cranach Komitee
TitleLucas Cranach Ausstellung. Weimar und Wittenberg
Place of PublicationWeimar, Wittenberg
Year of Publication1953
Show Literature
Scheidig 1953 B 136-139
AuthorWalther Scheidig
TitleLucas Cranach Selbstbildnisse und die Cranach-Bildnisse
Publicationin Heinz Lüdecke, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere. Der Künstler und seine Zeit
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1953
Pages128-139
Show Literature
Gurlitt 1895 26
AuthorCornelius Gurlitt
TitleBeschreibende Darstellung der Kunstdenkmäler des Königreichs Sachsen. Stadt Leipzig
Volume1
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1895
Show Literature
Stepner 1675 466
AuthorSalomon M. Stepner
TitleInscriptiones Lipsienses. Das ist Verzeichnis allerhand denkwürdiger Überschriften, Grab- und Gedächtnismahle in Leipzig
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1675
Show Literature
  • The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann], 1552-1557

Images

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

Technical studies

03. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

see report from 2013

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

03. 2015Technical Examination

  • reverse

Support

- the panel appears to be lime wood

- 12 planks, horizontally aligned

- the reverse exhibits diagonal marks created by a block plane, these are no wider than 2.5 cm

- three battens were glued over the joins (later addition)

[Heydenreich, cda 2015]

02. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the essential details and the facial features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger

Comments:

- a colour-coding is visible, e.g. beneath the various red tones (possibly executed in a fluid, dark medium?)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

1997Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared refectography

Underdrawing

An examination of the panel provided clear evidence that the figure kneeling behind Balthasar Hoffmann was a later addition as there was a third small child beneath. The external figure on the left also appears to have been added. The group of women on the right also appear to have been modified: the two maidens were probably added later, however it is not possible to establish, which of the deceased wives (denoted by the band over their mouths) was added. The arrangement of the coats-of-arms indicates that initially only the two tilted symetrically towards each other - the traditional composition for a combined married coat-of-arms - were present, that of Balthasar Hoffmann on the left and beside it that of the family Wiedemann belonging to his second wife Magdalena Wiedmann.

[Susanne Heiland, Exhib. Cat. Leipzig 1997, 90]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK14/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Sacrifice of Elijah [epitaph of Balthasar Hoffmann]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SML_kK14/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.