Reclining Water Nymph

Reclining Water Nymph

Title

Reclining Water Nymph

[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, 197-198, No. III.16]

The nymph displays herself to the viewer as a nude figure reclining on a black coat, beneath which a folded cloth serves as a pillow. She lies half on her blond hair with her head supported by her right hand and stares into the distance with a melancholy gaze. Behind

The nymph displays herself to the viewer as a nude figure reclining on a black coat, beneath which a folded cloth serves as a pillow. She lies half on her blond hair with her head supported by her right hand and stares into the distance with a melancholy gaze. Behind her there is a stone fountain on the left and a landscape on the right.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 197-198, No. III.16]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 81]

Production dates
about 1515 - 1520
about 1520 - 1530

Production dates

about 1515 - 1520

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

about 1520 - 1530

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 81]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 58.2 x 87.1 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 58.2 x 87.1 cm

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

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the left edge: winged serpent (with elevated wings)

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the left edge: winged serpent (with elevated wings)

Inscriptions and Labels

inscription on the upper bowl of the fountain: 'FONTIS NIMPHA SACRI SOMNVM NE RUMPE QVIESCO'
(I the nymph of …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • inscription on the upper bowl of the fountain: 'FONTIS NIMPHA SACRI SOMNVM NE RUMPE QVIESCO'

  • (I the nymph of the sacred source rest; do not disturb my sleep (or dream))

  • [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 197-198, No. III.16]

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1926
FR (1978) Nr.
FR119A
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1926/

Provenance

  • presumably in the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Palace) since the 16th century
  • recorded since 1699 in the Potsdamer Stadtschloss (Potsdam City Palace)
  • recorded in the Bildergalerie (picture gallery) of the Berliner Schloss since 1710
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 197-198, no. III.16]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 81
Berlin 2009/10, Cat.-No. III.16

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Coburg 2018 92 under no. 15
AuthorKlaus Weschenfelder
TitleCranach in Coburg. Gemälde von Lucas Cranach d.Ä., Lucas Cranach d.J., der Werkstatt und des Umkreises in den Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication2018
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Gotha, Kassel 2015 212
EditorJulia Carrasco, Justus Lange, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha, Benjamin D. Spira, Timo Trümper
TitleBild und Botschaft. Cranach im Dienst von Hof und Reformation, [Gotha, Herzogliches Museum; Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Schloss Wilhelmshöhe]
Place of PublicationHeidelberg
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Hinz 2010 B 47
AuthorBerthold Hinz
TitleAktmalerei bei Cranach. Ein neuer Geschäftszweig
Publicationin Guido Messling, ed., Die Welt des Lucas Cranach. Ein Künstler im Zeitalter von Dürer, Tizian und Metsys, Exhib. Cat. Brussels
Place of PublicationBrussels
Year of Publication2010
Pages42-53
Show Literature
Werner 2010 36 29
AuthorElke Anna Werner
TitleKünstlerische Transferprozesse und mediale Strategien kultureller Aneignung. Cranach und Italien
Publicationin Guido Messling, ed., Die Welt des Lucas Cranach. Ein Künstler im Zeitalter von Dürer, Tizian und Metsys, Exhib. Cat. Brussels
Place of PublicationBrussels
Year of Publication2010
Pages30-41
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 197-198 No. III.16 Fig. III.16
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, 93
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. Frankfurt 2007 330-331 102 p. 331
EditorBodo Brinkmann
TitleCranach der Ältere, [Frankfurt, Städel Museum, 23 Nov 2007 - 17 Feb 2008]
Place of PublicationOstfildern
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Foister 2003 119
AuthorSusan Foister
TitleCranachs Mythologien. Quellen und Originalität
Publicationin Heinz Spielmann, Werner Schade, eds., Lucas Cranach. Glaube, Mythologie und Moderne, Exhib. Cat. Hamburg 2003
Place of PublicationOstfildern-Ruit
Year of Publication2003
Pages116-129
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 94 No. 119A
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 423, 635, 636, 661 No. 543 Fig. 236
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature
Schade 1974 69-70
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 41-42 No. 42
AuthorHelmut Börsch-Supan
TitleDie Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1964
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 33 081 Pl. 72
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 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

‘Even if Cranach was influenced by classical, pseudo-classical and contemporary prototypes like Giorgione or Dürer he created an independent work, which is characterized by the juxtaposition of opposites. The unclothed representation of the female body on the one hand provokes the viewer’s attention, but at the same time his indulgent gaze is refused by the inscription and the nymph’s melancholy expression. The moralizing attitude, which warns against the sensual appearance of women may also contain a political meaning if compared with analogous scenes such as the abduction of Helen. In addition for the educated viewer the melancholy and contemplating nymph symbolized creative inspiration, while the fountain represented the source of wisdom.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 197-198, No. III.16]

  • Reclining Water Nymph, about 1515 - 1520

Images

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Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
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Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible; probably red chalk

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

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • X-radiography
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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
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Entry with no author
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