Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz

Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz

Title

Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz

[Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Epitaphs as memorial images for the deceased were common in the 16th century. However, the image created for the deceased child, Jorge (Georg) von Miltitz (1544-1548), departs from the known category that included the donors. The child, dressed in a white shroud, is raised up out of a sarcophagus located

Epitaphs as memorial images for the deceased were common in the 16th century. However, the image created for the deceased child, Jorge (Georg) von Miltitz (1544-1548), departs from the known category that included the donors. The child, dressed in a white shroud, is raised up out of a sarcophagus located on the summit of a green hill by angels that are also childlike in appearance. Above this the enthroned figure of Christ as judge appears on a circular rainbow with the globe at his feet. [...] The bottom, red field contains the Miltitz family coat of arms twice: the shield is divided into eight silver and black fields, the mantling on the helm is black and silver and it is decorated with a crown and black and silver buffalo horns.

[Löcher, in Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Production date
1548

Production date

1548

[dated on original frame]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 56 x 30 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 56 x 30 cm

  • [Sammlung Würth, revised 2015]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia bottom right: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia bottom right: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left

  • [cda 2015]

Inscriptions and Labels

  • on the top third section of the support:
    'LASSET DIE KINDLEIN ZV MIR KOMEN VND
    WERET IN NICHT DEN …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on the top third section of the support:

  • 'LASSET DIE KINDLEIN ZV MIR KOMEN VND

  • WERET IN NICHT DEN SOLCHER IST DAS

  • REICH GOTTES. MARCI AM: X.'

    • around the frame:

  • 'ANNO DOMINI . TAVSENT . FVNFHUNDERT . VND ACHT

  • VNVIRZIGSTEN . IAR FREITAG NACH QVASIMODO IST DIS KIND JORGE VON MIL

  • TICZ . SEINES ALTERS VER IAR . IN CHRISTO VORSC

  • HIDEN . DER LEIB HIE BEGRABEN : DEM GOT DVRCH CHRISTVM GNEDIG SEI.'

  • [Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

    • on the reverse: attached label: 'Aus Schloßbergung Siebeneichen Krs. Meißem [...] Inv.-Nr. 688'

  • [Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Owner
Sammlung Würth
Repository
Sammlung Würth
Location
Schwäbisch Hall
CDA ID
DE_SWK_8008
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SWK_8008/

Provenance

  • according to the label on the reverse: 'Aus Schloßbergung Siebeneichen Krs. Meißem [...] Inv.-Nr. 688'
  • auction Neumeister, Munich, 11. Dec. 2004, No. 459
    [Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008 42 4 p. 43
EditorC. Sylvia Weber
TitleNeuerwerbungen Alte Meister in der Sammlung Würth
Place of PublicationSchwäbisch Hall
Year of Publication2008
Show Literature
Gurlitt 1923 475-476
AuthorCornelius Gurlitt
TitleBeschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler in Sachsen. Amtshauptmannschaft Meißen-Land
SeriesBeschreibende Darstellung der älteren Bau- und Kunstdenkmäler in Sachsen
Volume41
Place of PublicationDresden
Year of Publication1923
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Ernst von Miltitz (1497-1555), who had the castle of Siebeneichen built and occupied numerous official positions cannot be the father of the deceased child, because his son Jorge, who also died in childhood was the first born. Furthermore the identical coats of arms show that both parents were members of the Miltitz family. The origin of the epitaph from the castle of Siebeneichen near (today in) Meißen, which was built in 1550, suggests that it was transferred from one of the neighbouring churches. The rank and reputation of the Milititz family suggest that the epitaph was not executed by one of Cranach's workshop assistants. Therefore the panel is with good reason attributed to Lucas Cranach the Younger.

[Löcher, in Cat. Schwäbisch Hall 2008, 42]

  • Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz, 1548

Images

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SWK_8008/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Epitaph for Jorge (Georg) of Miltitz', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SWK_8008/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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