Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara

Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara

Title

Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara

[cda 2021]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Emmendörffer 1997, 93]

The panel shows three of the four capital virgins saints Dorothy, Barbara and Catherine as full-length figures within a walled space revealing only a thin strip of sky. Each saint stands in front of a hanging rug decorated with a pomegranate motif. Dorothy can be identified by the basket of

The panel shows three of the four capital virgins saints Dorothy, Barbara and Catherine as full-length figures within a walled space revealing only a thin strip of sky. Each saint stands in front of a hanging rug decorated with a pomegranate motif. Dorothy can be identified by the basket of flowers she holds in front of her. She is wearing a bluish-green dress enveloped in a red cloak. Occupying the centre of the composition to her left is St Catherine here identified by the sword she prominently displays. She is crowned and wears a sumptuous red velvet robe with a green collar over a purple and pink shot silk dress. St Barbara is depicted absorbed in a book holding a chalice and a host. She is wearing a green dress laced at the waist over a gauzy blouse with a high collar. The sleeves are of shot silk, puffed at the shoulders and wide at the wrist.

[cda 2021]

Attributions
Hans Kemmer
Master of the Antependium from Asminderöd Kirke

Attributions

Hans Kemmer

[Exhib. Cat. Lübeck 2021, no. 31] [Emmendörffer 1997, 92] [Danmarks Kirker 1982, 794] [Beckett 1927, 238]

Master of the Antependium from Asminderöd Kirke

[Braun 1924, Bd. 2, 115]

Production date
about 1525

Production date

about 1525

[Exhib. Cat. Lübeck 2021, no. 31] [Emmendörffer 1997, 92]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 100 x 157 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 100 x 157 cm

  • [Emmendörffer 1997, 93]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Nationalmuseet, Denmark
Repository
Nationalmuseet, Denmark
Location
Copenhagen
CDA ID
DK_Natmus_D3017
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DK_Natmus_D3017/

Provenance

  • Mörköv, Tuse, Denmark
  • since 1894 in the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen
    [Emmendörffer 1997, 93]

Exhibitions

Lübeck 2021, no. 31

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Lübeck 2021 218, 219 031 Fig. p. 219
EditorDagmar Täube
TitleLucas Cranach der Ältere und Hans Kemmer. Meistermaler zwischen Renaissance und Reformation [Lübeck, St. Annen-Museum]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2021
Show Literature
Heydenreich 2021 B 60
AuthorGunnar Heydenreich
TitleHans Kemmer: Spuren künstlerischer Gestaltungsprozesse. Teil II: Wittenberg
Publicationin Dagmar Täube, ed., Lucas Cranach der Ältere und Hans Kemmer. Meistermaler zwischen Renaissance und Reformation [Lübeck, St. Annen-Museum]
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2021
Pages59-69
Show Literature
Emmendörffer 1997 50, 92, 93 003 Pl. 2
AuthorChristoph Emmendörffer
TitleHans Kemmer. Ein Lübecker Maler der Reformationszeit
Place of PublicationLeipzig
Year of Publication1997
Show Literature
Danmarks Kirker 1982 794 Fig. 25
EditorMarie-Louise Jörgensen, Hugo Johannsen
TitleDanmarks Kirker IV Holbaek Amt
VolumeBd. 2
Place of PublicationCopenhagen
Year of Publication1982
Show Literature
Beckett 1927 238 Fig. 313
AuthorFrancis Beckett
TitleDanmarks Kunst
VolumeBd. 2
Place of PublicationCopenhagen
Year of Publication1927
Show Literature
Braun 1924 115f. (Bd. 2)
AuthorJosef Braun
TitleDer Christliche Altar
Volume2 Bde
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication1924
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Emmendörffer suggests the composition was most likely inspired by printed prototypes.

[Emmendörffer 1997, 92, 93]

  • Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara, about 1525

Images

Compare images
  • overall

Technical studies

1997Technical Examination

Support

- the panel was not made with much care and consists of four and a half horizontally aligned softwood planks

Ground and Imprimatura

- thin application of ground

Underdrawing

- the technique of pouncing was employed for the underdrawing of the pomegranate motif on the hanging rugs. The lines were then for the most part drawn with a brush. It is possible that initial design for the linear underdrawing of the saints was also fixed employing the same technique.

- the underdawing is quite precise in detail and to a large extent consists of long lines drawn with confidence.

Paint Layers and Gilding

- only very minor corrections were made during the painting process and for the most part the painted version adheres to that of the underdrawing

- the flesh paint is thinly applied and finely blended so that the brushstrokes are no longer visible. Employing an admixtures of pigments the cheeks, temples and ears were modulated slightly. Contours and outlines were reinforced. The hair was laid in with a brown tone and then individual strands were picked out using dark brown paint. Finally the highlights were applied.

Framing

- the frame consists of four butt joint members

- the upper and side members are decorated with white floral ornaments applied with a stencil to a red underground. The upper member is additionally decorated with a fringe in a repeat pattern of the colours black, green, red and yellow.

Summary of: [Emmendörffer 1997, 92, 93]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DK_Natmus_D3017/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Antependium with Sts Dorothy, Catherine and Barbara', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DK_Natmus_D3017/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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