The Adoration [of the Shepherds]

The Adoration [of the Shepherds]

Title

The Adoration [of the Shepherds]

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

A trough containing the new born child surrounded by the ox and ass and small angels is positioned in the foreground parallel to the picture plane within a walled stable with a paved floor. The Virgin and Joseph, facing left, also knee before the Christ Child. At the top left

A trough containing the new born child surrounded by the ox and ass and small angels is positioned in the foreground parallel to the picture plane within a walled stable with a paved floor. The Virgin and Joseph, facing left, also knee before the Christ Child. At the top left there are more putti in a wreath of clouds. The shepherds look in through a large window in the right wall. In the background the annuciation by an angel to these very shepherds is shown. The Christmas image is kept in grey tones, dark vermilion red and moss green and is of decorative beauty.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Production date
about 1540 - 1550

Production date

about 1540 - 1550

"40er Jahre 16. Jh."
[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 76 x 56 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 76 x 56 cm

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia near the window: winged serpent (dropped wings)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia near the window: winged serpent (dropped wings)

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Owner
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Kunstsammlungen Schlösser, Gärten
Repository
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Museum Schloss Güstrow
Location
Schwerin
CDA ID
DE_SMS_G204
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G204/

Provenance

  • acquired between 1851 and 1863 from the art dealer Finck, formerly in the Galerie zu Schleißheim [it was acquired by the art dealer Finck, Berlin in 1854 for the then Grand Ducal Collection (Großherzoglichen Kunstsammlungen)]

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Schwerin 1990 20 009
AuthorKristina Hegner
TitleKunst der Renaissance
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1990
Show Literature
Hegner 1989 6, 7
AuthorKristina Hegner
TitleAltdeutsche Kunst [Faltblatt]
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1989
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Wittenberg 1972 No. 280
Authorn. a.
TitleLucas Cranach, Zeit, Leben, Werk. Dokumentationsausstellung des Cranach-Komitees der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik 1972[Wittenberg, Staatl. Lutherhalle, 9. September - 31. Dezember 1972]
Place of PublicationWittenberg
Year of Publication1972
Show Literature
Cat. Schwerin 1882 No. 164
AuthorFriedrich Schlie
TitleBeschriebendes Verzeichniss der Werke älterer Meister in Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie zu Schwerin
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1882
Show Literature
Schlie 1882 23
AuthorFriedrich Schlie
TitleKurzes Verzeichniss der Bilder in der Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie zu Schwerin
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1882
Show Literature
Schlie 1883 18
AuthorFriedrich Schlie
TitleKurzes Verzeichniss der Bilder in der Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie zu Schwerin
Place of PublicationSchwerin
IssueSecond edition
Year of Publication1882
Show Literature
Prosch 1863 10 (III)
AuthorEduard Prosch
TitleCatalog und Inventarium der Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie und der Grossherzoglichen Sammlung plastischer Kunstwerke in Schwerin
Year of Publication1863
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Stylistically similar to the pictorial type on the Schneeberg Altar from 1539 (compare among others the shepherds at the window). The subject is rarely found among the autographed paintings by Cranach. The child in swaddling clothes in the trough recalls early christian depictions.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

During a visit in 2003 Dieter Koepplin attributed it to Cranach the Younger and workshop or possibly circle of.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

  • The Adoration [of the Shepherds], about 1540 - 1550

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail
  • detail

Technical studies

07. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Condition Reports

Date1990

The panel has been thinned, laminated onto a new wooden board and cradled. Recent frame after an old prototype with bevelled front edge.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 20]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Adoration [of the Shepherds]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G204/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Adoration [of the Shepherds]', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G204/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.