Portrait of Martin Luther

Portrait of Martin Luther

Title

Portrait of Martin Luther

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

The bust portrait of the reformer is depicted against a blue background. He wears a pale natural toned gown with fur trimming and blue-grey lapels. His hair is also bluish grey. He holds a closed bible in his hand. In contrast to the autographed works by Cranach the Younger (e.g.

The bust portrait of the reformer is depicted against a blue background. He wears a pale natural toned gown with fur trimming and blue-grey lapels. His hair is also bluish grey. He holds a closed bible in his hand. In contrast to the autographed works by Cranach the Younger (e.g. Weimar, Kunstsammlungen) the face appears caricatural and the hands somewhat awkward. A similar gown and closed bible are represented in the woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Younger 'Martin Luther standing in front of a Landscape' (about 1546/47).'

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Attributions
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger
Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger (?)

Attributions

Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Production date
about 1546 - 1547

Production date

about 1546 - 1547

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 59 x 36 cm (originally 56.5 x 35)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 59 x 36 cm (originally 56.5 x 35)

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the left next to the shoulder: winged serpent (smudged)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the left next to the shoulder: winged serpent (smudged)

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Inscriptions and Labels
  • a Latin text has been stuck onto the bottom quarter of the painting

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • a Latin text has been stuck onto the bottom quarter of the painting

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Owner
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Kunstsammlungen Schlösser, Gärten
Repository
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Galerie Alte und Neue Meister
Location
Schwerin
CDA ID
DE_SMS_G579
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G579/

Provenance

  • probably acquired between 1863 and 1868 from the court secretary Peters (Hofsekretär)

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Schwerin 1990 22 014
AuthorKristina Hegner
TitleKunst der Renaissance
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1990
Show Literature
Bode 1891 165
AuthorWilhelm Bode
TitleDie Grossherzogliche Gemälde-Galerie zu Schwerin
Place of PublicationVienna
Year of Publication1891
Show Literature
Cat. Schwerin 1882 No. 170
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 43 (III)
AuthorEduard Prosch
TitleCatalog und Inventarium der Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie und der Grossherzoglichen Sammlung plastischer Kunstwerke in Schwerin
Year of Publication1863
Show Literature
  • Portrait of Martin Luther, about 1546 - 1547

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • 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 original panel was extensively damaged, the painted surface was transferred to a new panel and 3 mm additions were attached to the sides and c. 3 cm added along the top. Cradled (1930). Numerous vertical splits in the area of the face, retouched

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Conservation History

Date2009 - 1930

Restored 2009

[cda 2013]

Date1930

  • cradled (1930).

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G579/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G579/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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