Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg

Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg

Title

Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg

[CDA 2012]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 173, I.23]

The painting depicts Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg as an almost life-size, half-length figure against a light background. He looks at the viewer. He wears a fur waist-coat over his sumptuous robe and a fur hat decorated with the monogram of Christ on his head. In addition he wears two

The painting depicts Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg as an almost life-size, half-length figure against a light background. He looks at the viewer. He wears a fur waist-coat over his sumptuous robe and a fur hat decorated with the monogram of Christ on his head. In addition he wears two chains with pendants around his neck, a ring on his finger and holds rosary beads in his left hand.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 173, I.23] [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 149]

Production dates
about 1570
before 1571

Production dates

about 1570

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 173, I.23]

before 1571

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 149]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 112.2 x 88 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 112.2 x 88 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 173, I.23]

Signature / Dating

none

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1113
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1113/

Provenance

  • 1699 presumably in the Potsdam city palace (Potsdamer Stadtschloss)
  • 1793 recorded in the Berlin palace (Berliner Schloss)
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 173, I.23]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 149
Berlin 2009/10, no. I.23

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Müller 2015 271, 272, Fn. 19, 20 Fig. 7
AuthorMatthias Müller
TitleWiederkehr der Mimesis. Die höfische Porträtmalerei Lucas Cranachs des Jüngeren nach 1550 als paradigmatische Neuausrichtung des 'Cranach-Stils'
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages266-279
Show Literature
Tacke 2015 86, 87 Fig. 5
AuthorAndreas Tacke
TitleGleich dem Kaninchen vor der Schlange? Altgläubige und die Wittenberger Bildpropaganda.
Publicationin Julia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein Gotha and Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, eds., Bild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Pages82-90
Show Literature
Martin 2010 56
AuthorAndrew John Martin
TitleLucas Cranach et l'arte delle corti del Nord; Lucas Cranach and the Art of the Northern Courts
Publicationin Anna Coliva, Bernhard Aikema, eds., Cranach l¿altro rinascimento, a different Renaissance, Exhib. Cat. Rome
Place of PublicationMilan
Year of Publication2010
Pages48 - 61
Show Literature
Müller 2010 68, 69 Fig. 12
AuthorMatthias Müller
Title"Menschen so zu malen, daß sie erkannt werden und zu leben scheinen" Naturnachahmung als Problem in Lucas Cranachs höfischer Porträtmalerei
Publicationin Matthias Müller, ed., Apelles am Fürstenhof. Facetten der Hofkunst um 1500 im Alten Reich Exhib. Cat. Coburg 2010
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2010
Pages57-73
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 173 No. I.23 Fig. I.23
EditorStiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
TitleCranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Show Literature
Most, Wolf et al. 2009 91 Fig. 5
AuthorMechthild Most, Anja Wolf, Peter Klein, Undine Köhler, Jens Bartoll, Eva Wenders de Calisse
TitleZur Maltechnik der beiden Cranach und ihrer Werkstatt. Ergebnisse der technologischen Untersuchung der Bildtafeln der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Publicationin Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg, Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri-St. Marien, eds., Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern, Exhib. Cat. Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Pages86-97
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Chemnitz 2005 471, 472 under No. 41
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
Börsch-Supan 1992 22-23
AuthorHelmut Börsch-Supan
TitleAus der Gemäldesammlung
Publicationin Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin, ed., 450 Jahre Jagdschloss Grunewald: 1542-1992
Volume2
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Schade 1974 101-102
AuthorWerner Schade
TitleDie Malerfamilie Cranach
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1974
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/schade1974
Show Literature
Börsch-Supan 1964 49-50 No. 53
AuthorHelmut Börsch-Supan
TitleDie Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1964
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 54 149 Pl. 116
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Rumpf 1794 70
AuthorJohan Daniel Friedrich Rumpf
TitleNeuester Wegweiser durch die Königl. Preußischen Staaten. Ein Handbuch für fremde und Einheimische. Beschreibung der aeussern und innern Merkwürdigkeiten der Königlichen Schlösser in Berlin, Charlottenburg und bey Potsdam
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1794
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

‚At the beginning of the twentieth century the sitter was still thought to be Johann of Küstrin, the brother of Joachim. […]

In this portrait Joachim appears older compared with the Perini portrait [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 172-173, I.22], which is dated 1562 and therefore a later date is assumed here.

However it is difficult to link the clothing and the jewellery with a date around 1570 as they appear more appropriate for a believer of the old faith. In 1563 Joachim publically announced and celebrated his conversion to the Lutheran Faith, but despite this he is not depicted here in the attire of a protestant duke. The elector exhibits the sumptuous representation style, which the Hollenzoller dynasty developed against the background of their prominent position in the empire. The occasion for this portrait may have been the prospect of an expansion of this region of influence. In 1569 Joachim II obtained common feudal rights for Prussia after many years of negotiation with the polish King, a success which was of extensive political importance. Researchers have identified the strikingly tall fur hat, which is unusual within German costume tradition, as a polish article of clothing. It is therefore plausible that Joachim wished to emphasize the close ties between the Electorate of Brandenburg and the polish King Sigismund II. August.‘

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 174, I.23]

  • Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg, about 1570

Images

Compare images
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Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk

Type/Ductus:

- economic traced or copied underdrawing

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger or workshop

Comments:

- probably after a pre-existing design

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2019]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1113/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1113/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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