The Virgin and Child with the infant St John

The Virgin and Child with the infant St John

Title

The Virgin and Child with the infant St John

[cda 2019]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

The seated Mother of God holds the naked infant in her lap, while looking at the viewer with her head gracefully inclined. The infant St John approaches from the left and offers Christ a bunch of grapes. This gesture indicates that St John sees in him the true vine and

The seated Mother of God holds the naked infant in her lap, while looking at the viewer with her head gracefully inclined. The infant St John approaches from the left and offers Christ a bunch of grapes. This gesture indicates that St John sees in him the true vine and has recognized the Savior.

[see Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

Attributions
Anonymous Master from the Cranach Workshop
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Anonymous Master from the Cranach Workshop

'Nachfolger Lucas Cranach d. Ä.' [Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

(?) [Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

Production date
1554

Production date

1554

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 64 × 46 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 64 × 46 cm

  • Dimensions including frame: 72 × 53 cm

  • [Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

Signature / Dating

Dated at the right edge '1554'

Signature / Dating

  • Dated at the right edge '1554'

Inscriptions and Labels

Above the head of the infant St John: 'IOH : BAP'
[cda 2019]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • Above the head of the infant St John: 'IOH : BAP'

  • [cda 2019]

Owner
Städtische Museen Zittau
Repository
Städtische Museen Zittau
Location
Zittau
CDA ID
DE_SMZ_3931-60
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMZ_3931-60/

Provenance

  • probably from the Zittauer Ratsbibliothek
    [Winzeler 2008, 34-35]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Winzeler 2008 34-35
AuthorMarius Winzeler
EditorZittauer Geschichts- und Museumsverein e.V.
TitleMarienbilder im konfessionellen Zeitalter
Publicationin Marius Winzeler, ed., Lausitzer Madonnen zwischen Mystik und Reformation [Exhib. Cat. Zittau]
SeriesZittauer Geschichtsblätter
Place of PublicationZittau-Görlitz
Issue36
Year of Publication2008
Pages34-35
Show Literature
  • The Virgin and Child with the infant St John, 1554

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

08. 2019Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- the initial design was fixed with a dry, black drawing material; this was then reworked and developed further using a fluid, black medium and brush

Type/Ductus:

- fine to thin lines; for the most part tracing or copied lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the main contours and describe essential details and facial features; isolated representation of volume with hatching strokes (the nose)

Deviations:

- only very minor corrections to forms during the painting process; no significant changes

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- probably created in Lucas Cranach the Younger’s workshop

Comments:

- after a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2020]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Virgin and Child with the infant St John', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMZ_3931-60/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Virgin and Child with the infant St John', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SMZ_3931-60/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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