Eve

Eve

Title

Eve

[CDA 2012]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

The painting depicts Eve as a life-size nude. Her body is turned frontally to the viewer and although her head is turned slightly to the left she looks directly at the viewer. Eve wears her long blond hair loose. In her left hand, which is raised, she holds an apple

The painting depicts Eve as a life-size nude. Her body is turned frontally to the viewer and although her head is turned slightly to the left she looks directly at the viewer. Eve wears her long blond hair loose. In her left hand, which is raised, she holds an apple from which she has already taken a bite. In her right hand, which is also raised, she holds onto the branch of a tree around which the serpent has wound itself. The trunk of the tree extends along the left side of the painting. Eve stands on stony ground in front of dark green undergrowth, which is in contrast to the light flesh paint. A stag lies behind her and also looks out at the viewer.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach der Ältere

Attribution

Lucas Cranach der Ältere

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 101]

Production date
1537

Production date

1537

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 175 x 66 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 175 x 66 cm

  • [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia below the tree: winged serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1537'

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia below the tree: winged serpent (with elevated wings) and date '1537'

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1184
FR (1978) Nr.
FR198
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1184/

Connected Works

Adam
  • Adam, about 1537
  • DE_SPSG_GKI1195
  • Painting
  • Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg

Provenance

  • since 1793 recorded in the Berlin palace
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 101
Berlin 2009/10, no. III.19

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 199-200 No. III.19 Fig. III.19
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 88, 90, 94-95 Figs. 8-10
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
Schoen 2001 117-125
AuthorChristian Schoen
TitleAlbrecht Dürer: Adam und Eva. Die Gemälde, ihre Geschichte und Rezeption bei Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und Hans Baldung Grien
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2001
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 109 No. 198 Fig. 198
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Börsch-Supan 1964 45-46 No. 48
AuthorHelmut Börsch-Supan
TitleDie Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1964
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 38 101 Pl. 85
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 166
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Rumpf 1794 138
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

‘The stag lying behind Eve reminds us of the original mutual trust between man and animals before the Fall of Man; it can also be interpreted as a Christian symbol, as the stag is said to be the enemy of the serpent and thus alludes to salvation from the original sin through Christ.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

'The first human couple was depicted here by Cranach as two life-size nude figures on separate panels. The tree, which is split down the centre, indicates that they belong together and were originally displayed next to each other. […]

Inspired by Dürer’s famous engraving (1504) and his paintings (1507) Cranach and his workshop have depicted Adam and Eve in more than 50 versions, either on two separate panels or together on one, in different sizes and poses as well as against different backgrounds. The function of these paintings has not yet been completely clarified and probably varied. They may have been used as wing panels, but are also associated with the ‚Weiberlisten‘ and warn against female seduction and a disregard of God’s commandments. As the paintings in Berlin were executed in 1537 together with the Passion cycle they may also like it have been intended for the collegial church (Stiftskirche); however as yet no evidence confirming their use as wing panels could be found. Therefore it is conceivable that they were displayed as an ‘Exempla of Virtue’ in a corresponding decorative scheme in a room of the Berlin palace.'

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

  • Eve, 1537

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • irr

Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- dry drawing material, dark chalk; possibly in combination with a fluid medium and a brush

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing

- delicate, fine lines

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Lucas Cranach the Younger (?)

Comments:

- possibly with reference to a preparatory drawing

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2012]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Eve', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1184/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Eve', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1184/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.