St Ursula

Title

St Ursula

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

The small panel depicts St Ursula in a fashionable, contemporary dress. She stands in front of a velvet curtain, which is held by an angel. She holds the instrument of her martyrdom, an arrow, in both hands.

[see Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

Attributions: Lucas Cranach the Elder (workshop)
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder (workshop)	[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Werner, Exhib. Cat. Halle 2006, 190]

Production date: about 1525

Production date

about 1525

[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 29.2 x 10.4 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 29.2 x 10.4 cm
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

Signature / Dating: none

Inscriptions and Labels: Integrated in the nimbus: 'S VRSULA' and in the neckband: 'O.M.V.I.A'
[cda 2012]

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

Integrated in the nimbus: 'S VRSULA' and in the neckband: 'O.M.V.I.A'
[cda 2012]

Owner: Hohenzoller dynasty, Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia
Repository: Grunewald hunting lodge
Location: Grunewald

CDA ID: DE_SPSG_GKI9370
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI9370/

Connected Works

Provenance

1902 acquired from a private collection
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, no. IV.4]

Exhibitions

Halle 2006, no. 93B
Berlin 2009/10, Cat. No. IV.4

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A

208-209

No. IV.4

Fig. IV.4b

Editor	Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Title	Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	2009

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg 2007

283

No. 24b

Fig. p. 283

Editor	Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke
Title	Cranach im Exil. Aschaffenburg um 1540. Zuflucht - Schatzkammer - Residenz. Ausstellungskatalog Schloss Johannisburg und Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2007

Show Literature

Merkel 2007 A

Fig. 3

Author	Kerstin Merkel
Title	Die Konkubinen des Kardinals - Legenden und Fakten
Publication	in Gerhard Ermischer, Andreas Tacke, eds., Cranach im Exil, Exhib. Cat. Aschaffenburg
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2007
Pages	77-97

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Halle 2006

190, 194, 195

093B

Pl. p. 195

Editor	Thomas Schauerte
Title	Der Kardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg. Renaissancefürst und Mäzen. Bd. 1: Katalog
Place of Publication	Regensburg
Year of Publication	2006

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Mainz 1990

No. 81

Editor	Horst Reber, Berthold Roland
Title	Albrecht von Brandenburg. Kurfürst, Erzkanzler, Kardinal, 1490 - 1545. Zum 500. Geburtstag eines deutschen Renaissancefürsten
Place of Publication	Mainz
Year of Publication	1990

Show Literature

Börsch-Supan 1964

No. 52

Author	Helmut Börsch-Supan
Title	Die Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1964

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

‘Like the pendant picture of St Erasmus, which has the features of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, this panel depicting St Ursula could also be a role portrait. A former theory suggesting that the sitter is Ursula Rehdinger cannot be confirmed. The letters O.M.V.I.A on Ursula’s neckband, referring to „Omnia vincit amor“ (Love vanquishes all) in Virgil’s 10 Eclogue, support the thesis, that it could be a crypto-portrait of a concubine (Leys Schütz?). Erotic connotations are also suggested by the direct eye contact between the two figures and the alignment of the arrow, which like Cupid’s arrow is pointing at Erasmus/Albrecht. […]

The present presentation of the panels as a diptych is probably not correct. It can be assumed that they were originally wing panels on an altarpiece whose central panel is now lost.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 208-209, No. IV.4]

St Ursula, about 1525

Images

Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, black medium, brush or possibly quill

Type/Ductus:

- freehand underdrawing? However some sections appear traced or copied?

- thin lines

Function:

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

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to the forms during the painting process

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder

Comments:

- possibly transferred from 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>, 'St Ursula', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI9370/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'St Ursula', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI9370/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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