Christ Blessing the Children

Christ Blessing the Children

Title

Christ Blessing the Children

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2013]

Christ stands in the centre and numerous women bring their children to him. There are four apostles in the background on the right side of the painting. One of them holds a mother back. The figures are depicted in three-quarter length all at the same head height.

It illustrates the biblical

Christ stands in the centre and numerous women bring their children to him. There are four apostles in the background on the right side of the painting. One of them holds a mother back. The figures are depicted in three-quarter length all at the same head height.

It illustrates the biblical passages Luke 18, 15-17, Matthew 19, 13-15 and Mark 10, 13-16: 'and they brought the little children to him, so that he could touch them...' This subject was prompted by Luther and his friends in their conflict with the Anabaptists who rejected the baptism of children. At the same time it supports the ideals of child-rearing and the family, which had begun to play a more significant role since the middle ages and were nurtured anew by Luther.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22, 23]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder or Circle
copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder or Circle

[cda 2013]

copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 23]

Production dates
about 1540 - 1550
1700 - 1899

Production dates

about 1540 - 1550

[cda 2013]

1700 - 1899

loose copy from the 18th or 19th century
[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 23]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 64.4 x 84.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 64.4 x 84.5 cm

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at bottom right: winged serpent (dropped wings)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at bottom right: winged serpent (dropped wings)

  • [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Inscriptions and Labels

Recto: bottom right hand corner: '159' (possibly an old inventory no.)
(This painting could be the one auctioned in …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Recto: bottom right hand corner: '159' (possibly an old inventory no.)

  • (This painting could be the one auctioned in 1860 (cat. no. 8) by the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden and listed as B 159 in the inventory from 1722-1728. Moreover it depicts the same subject and exhibits the same dimensions.

  • [cda 2017]

Owner
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Kunstsammlungen Schlösser, Gärten
Repository
Staatliches Museum Schwerin, Galerie Alte und Neue Meister
Location
Schwerin
CDA ID
DE_SMS_G691
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G691/

Provenance

  • acquired between 1851 and 1863 from the royal gallery in Dresden
    (probably: Inventory 1722-1728, B 159)[1]
    [1][cda 2017]
    [Cat. Schwerin 1990, 23]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Kolb 2005 C 531, 569
AuthorKarin Kolb
TitleDokumentation zum Dresdener Cranach-Bestand
Publicationin Harald Marx, Ingrid Mössinger, Karin Kolb, eds., Cranach. Gemälde aus Dresden, Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz
Place of PublicationCologne
Year of Publication2005
Pages526-572
Show Literature
Cat. Schwerin 1990 22-23 015
AuthorKristina Hegner
TitleKunst der Renaissance
Place of PublicationSchwerin
Year of Publication1990
Show Literature
Cat. Schwerin 1882 No. 166
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 14 (III)
AuthorEduard Prosch
TitleCatalog und Inventarium der Grossherzoglichen Gemälde-Gallerie und der Grossherzoglichen Sammlung plastischer Kunstwerke in Schwerin
Year of Publication1863
Show Literature
  • Christ Blessing the Children, about 1540 - 1550

Images

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Technical studies

07. 2013Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing

- thin to broad lines

Function:

- relatively 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; small changes (e.g. the direction of Christ’s gaze)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- workshop of Lucas Cranach?

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Conservation History

Date1990

The panel was mounted on a predella-like base and a new backboard was attached to the reverse.

[Cat. Schwerin 1990, 22]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G691/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ Blessing the Children', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMS_G691/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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