Law and Grace ('Gotha type')

Law and Grace ('Gotha type')

Title

Law and Grace ('Gotha type')

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

Painting on parchment

Medium

Painting on parchment

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

The subject, usually identified as ' Law and Grace (or the Gospel)', visualises the doctrine of justification as characterized by Luther, who in 1529 developed the iconographic execution together with Cranach. From this time onwards numerous versions of the subject were produced in the Cranach workshop as drawings, panel paintings,

The subject, usually identified as ' Law and Grace (or the Gospel)', visualises the doctrine of justification as characterized by Luther, who in 1529 developed the iconographic execution together with Cranach. From this time onwards numerous versions of the subject were produced in the Cranach workshop as drawings, panel paintings, printed material and in three cases (Berlin, Dessau, Jena) as minatures within the context of royal ornamented bibles. The sheet in the ThULB Jena is related to the so-called 'Gotha type' (after a painting by Cranach in Gotha, Stiftung Schloss Friedenstein, see DE_SMG_SG676). The composition is divided by a tree, creating a side for sin (left) and one for grace (right): left Adam and Eve beneath the tree of knowledge; Adam is driven into the fires of Hell by Death and the Devil, where Eve, among others, already is; Moses with the ten commandments and three men; above the Judge of the World with angels; on the right are St John the Baptist with Adam, who is showered with Christ's blood; Christ defeating Death and the Devil; the brazen serpent; the expectant Virgin; the annunciation to the shepherds; Christ's feet as he ascends to heaven. The artist's insignia and the date '1543' are in the cave at the right . Above the image are the Biblical passages most relevant for Luther's doctine of justification, above all from the Letter to the Romans.

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

see also: http://archive.thulb.uni-jena.de/hisbest/receive/HisBest_cbu_00023632

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Schulze 2004, 18]
[Exhib. Cat. Marburg 1992, 294 f.]

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1994, 46]
[Karpe 1976, 74]
[Rothe 1966, 278]
[Thulin 1955]: "maßgeblich" (for the greater part)

Production date
1543

Production date

1543

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support (parchment sheet): 38.5 x 26.3 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support (parchment sheet): 38.5 x 26.3 cm

  • Dimensions of painted surface: 19.5 x 19.5 cm

  • [Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the right side (cave): winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left and dated '1543'; in gold

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the right side (cave): winged serpent with elevated wings, facing left and dated '1543'; in gold

  • [Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

Owner
Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena
Repository
Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena
Location
Jena
CDA ID
DE_ThULBJ_Ms-El-f-102a
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ThULBJ_Ms-El-f-102a/

Provenance

  • 1543 - 1547: Wittenberg, Residence (property of Elector Johann Friedrich I. von Sachsen)
  • 1547 - c. 1550/54: Weimar, Fransiscaner monastery or the Residence
  • since c. 1550/54: Jena, Fürstlich Sächsische Bibliothek (now: Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek)

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

Exhibitions

  • Marburg, Eisenach 1992 (only in Marburg)
  • Eisenach, Torgau 1994

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Reinitzer 2006 56-57, 277-278 350 155
AuthorHeimo Reinitzer
TitleGesetz und Evangelium. Über ein reformatorisches Bildthema, seine Tradition, Funktion und Wirkungsgeschichte
Volume1-2
Place of PublicationHamburg
Year of Publication2006
Show Literature
Schulze 2004 18
AuthorIngrid Schulze
TitleLucas Cranach d. J. und die protestantische Bildkunst in Sachsen und Thüringen. Frömmigkeit, Theologie, Fürstenreformation
Place of PublicationBucha near Jena
Year of Publication2004
Show Literature
Kratzsch 2001 104-110 No. 19
AuthorIrmgard Kratzsch
TitleSchätze der Buchmalerei. Aus der Handschriftensammlung der Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena
Place of PublicationJena
Year of Publication2001
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Eisenach 1994 46 f. No. 31
EditorGünter Schuchardt
TitleGesetz und Gnade. Cranach, Luther und die Bilder
Place of PublicationEisenach, Torgau
Year of Publication1994
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Marburg, Eisenach 1992 294 f. No. 541
EditingRenate Petzinger
TitleHessen und Thüringen. Von den Anfängen bis zur Reformation
Place of PublicationWiesbaden
Year of Publication1992
Show Literature
Karpe 1976 74-76
AuthorGeorg Karpe
TitleHandschriften und alte Drucke aus den Sammlungen der Universitätsbibliothek der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Place of PublicationJena
Year of Publication1976
Show Literature
Rothe 1966 232, 278 Plate 157
AuthorEdith Rothe
TitleBuchmalerei aus zwölf Jahrhunderten
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1966
Show Literature
Thulin 1955 139
AuthorOskar Thulin
TitleCranach-Altäre der Reformation
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1955
Show Literature
Koch 1952 354 f.
AuthorHerbert Koch
TitleDie "Electoralis"
JournalZentralblatt für Bibliothekswesen
Issue66
Year of Publication1952
Pages343-358
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Ms. El. f. 102 a (insert)

Originally the first page of volume I. of the parchment bible belonging to Elector Johann Friedrich I. von Sachsen (in two volumes, ThULB Jena, Ms. El. f. 102 a–b). During treatment in 1962 it was removed and since the has been enclosed in the bible as a loose sheet. The bibliographic details of the main work: Biblia: das ist:|| die gantze Heili=||ge Schrifft:|| Deudsch/ Auffs New || zugericht.|| D. Mart. Luth.||, Wittenberg 1541 (VD16 ZV 24532; here a hand coloured edition on parchment in two volumes)

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

see also: http://archive.thulb.uni-jena.de/hisbest/receive/HisBest_cbu_00023632

  • Law and Grace ('Gotha type'), 1543

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • reverse
  • conservation
  • conservation

Conservation History

Date1962

  • conservation

Removed from the Bible during treatment in 1962 and since then enclosed as a loose sheet

[Thüringer Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Jena, revised 2014]

Versions

Law and Grace [from the bible of Georg III. of Anhalt, Georg 1476.2°, vol. 3, additional sheet in front of folio CCXLII]
  • Law and Grace [from the bible of Georg III. of Anhalt, Georg 1476.2°, vol. 3, additional sheet in front of folio CCXLII], 1544
  • DE_ALBD_Georg1476-2-3
  • Painting
  • Anhaltische Landesbücherei Dessau
Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt]
  • Law and Grace [from the bible of Johann II. of Anhalt], about 1543 - 1544
  • DE_SBB_fol-9-Ir
  • Painting
  • Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin - Preußischer Kulturbesitz

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Law and Grace ('Gotha type')', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ThULBJ_Ms-El-f-102a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Law and Grace ('Gotha type')', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ThULBJ_Ms-El-f-102a/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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