Portrait of a young man with a hat

Painting on laid paper

Medium

Painting on laid paper
prepared with a pink ground;
brush strokes of varying width, linear and flat as well, as translucent and opaque paint application, contours in brown-black paint, modelling of the flesh tones in pink (lead white, vermillion, iron oxide), lips and caruncle with red lake, iris in grey-brown, pupils in black, each with two white reflections

[cda 2026]

A portrait study showing the head of a man with short hair and a hat, facing to the right. The face and hair are modelled in shades of colour, whereas the hat and collar are only roughly sketched.

[cda 2026]

Attributions: Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Louvre online, accessed 30.10.2025]; [or Cranach the Younger?, Rosenberg 1960, 30, no. 82]; [Girshausen 1936, 70, no. 43]
Lucas Cranach the Younger	[Hofbauer 2010, 428, no. 214]; [or Cranach the Elder?, Rosenberg 1960, 30, no. 82]

Dating: about 1540
about 1515

Dating

about 1540	[Rosenberg 1960, 30, no. 82]
about 1515	[Girshausen 1936, 38]

Dimensions: Sheet: 284-285 x 205-207 mm

Dimensions

Sheet: 284-285 x 205-207 mm
Image: 284-285 x 205-207 mm
[cda 2025]

Signature / Dating: possible genuine signature on the reverse, top right: 'LC' (linked)

Signature / Dating

possible genuine signature on the reverse, top right: 'LC' (linked)
(see Research history)

Inscriptions: none

Inscriptions

Inscriptions:

none

Labels: Recto, bottom right, not genuine: Dürer-monogram and date '1525';
Verso, top right: 'LC' (linked), possibly genuine (see Research history)

Labels

later inscription, stamps, seals, labels:

Recto, bottom right, not genuine: Dürer-monogram and date '1525';
Verso, top right: 'LC' (linked), possibly genuine (see Research history)

Owner: Musée du Louvre, Paris
Repository: Musée du Louvre, Paris
Location: Paris

CDA ID: F_MdLP_18870
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/F_MdLP_18870/

Provenance

Given to the museum, Inventory of the Napoleon Museum
[Louvre online, accessed 30.10.2025]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 205

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Hofbauer 2010

428, 429

214

Fig. p. 429

Author	Michael Hofbauer
Title	Cranach - die Zeichnungen
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	2010

Show Literature

Rosenberg 1960

082

pl. 82

Author	Jakob Rosenberg
Title	Die Zeichnungen Lucas Cranachs d.Ä.
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1960
Link	https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42777

Show Literature

Cat. Paris 1937

087

pl. XXVIII

Author	Louis Demonts, Frits Lugt
Title	Inventaire général des dessins des écoles du nord, Écoles allemande et suisse, 1: Première periode: maîtres nés avant 1550, A - P, [Louvre, Paris]
Place of Publication	Paris
Year of Publication	1937

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937

214

Editor	Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Title	Lucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of Publication	Berlin
Year of Publication	1937

Show Literature

Girshausen 1936

38, 70

043

Author	Theo Ludwig Girshausen
Title	Die Handzeichnungen Lukas Cranachs des Älteren
Place of Publication	Frankfurt/Main
Year of Publication	1936
Link	https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.23708

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

According to Hofbauer this sheet might also be from the series of portrait drawings held by the Museum in Reims.

[Hofbauer 2010, 428]

Girshausen notes that, 'On the verso of the sheet, a Cranach signature L. C. linked (genuine?), is visible through the backing paper.'

[Girshausen 1936, 70, no. 43]

Portrait of a young man with a hat, about 1540

Images

Technical studies

30.09.2025Scientific analysis

Instrumental material analysis

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) (Thermo Scientific - Niton XL3t GOLDD+)

The following elements were detected using XRF and in conjunction with their optical characteristics the following fillers, drawing media and colourants could be identified:

M23 Grey-brown (eye): Pb, Ca, Fe, Hg, (Zn)

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide (?); Hg: vermillion

M24 White (eye): Pb, Ca, Fe, Hg

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide (?); Hg: vermillion

M25 Pink (cheek): Pb, Ca, Fe, Hg

Pb: lead white/red lead (?); Ca: chalk/gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide (?); Hg: vermillion

[Gunnar Heydenreich, Diana Blumenroth, unpublished analysis results, 30.09.2025]

examined by Gunnar Heydenreich
examined by Diana Blumenroth

2025 - Technical Examination

Watermark

Watermark: absent

[cda 2025]

2025 - Technical Examination

Examination of paper / structural analysis

Support

Paper type: laid

Chain line, orientation to image: vertical

Chain lines (intervals): 29;28;28;26;28;27

Laid lines (density): 10

Mould side: recto

[cda 2025]

Process, Medium

brush strokes of varying width, linear and flat, as well as translucent and opaque paint application, contours in brown-black paint, modelling of the flesh tones in pink (lead white, vermillion, iron oxide, XRF), lips and caruncle with a red lake, iris in grey-brown, pupils in black, each with two white reflections; on laid paper prepared with a ground containing lead white (XRF) and some red pigment

[Thomas Klinke, Gunnar Heydenreich, cda 2026]

Condition Reports

Date2025 -

lined; transparent and glossy coating over the entire surface (not contemporary)

[cda 2025]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Portrait of a young man with a hat', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/F_MdLP_18870/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Portrait of a young man with a hat', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/F_MdLP_18870/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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