Christ on the Cross

Christ on the Cross

Title

Christ on the Cross

[National Gallery of Ireland, revised 2013]

Painting on oak wood

Medium

Painting on oak wood

[National Gallery of Ireland, revised 2013]

'The image of Christ on the Cross in no. 471 corresponds to a precise moment in Christ's Crucifixion as told in the book of Luke, ch. 23, vs. 44-46: '(44) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

'The image of Christ on the Cross in no. 471 corresponds to a precise moment in Christ's Crucifixion as told in the book of Luke, ch. 23, vs. 44-46: '(44) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in the midst. (46) and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, and, having said this, he gave up his spirit.' The Latin equivalent to Christ's last words are written above the cross in the Dublin picture. Christ looks up towards heaven and his mouth is open to speak the final words. That Christ is alive is emphasised by the absence of the wound in His side which was pierced after his death. The billowing loin cloth adds to the portrayal of a particular instant in the Crucifixion narrative and the dramatic effect is enhanced by the way Christ is silhouetted against the dark sky.'

[Cat. Dublin 1987, 7, No. 471]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[National Gallery of Ireland, revised 2013]

Lucas Cranach the Elder

Former attributions:
1898-1981 National Gallery of Ireland catalogues
1876 [Exhib. Cat. Wexham 1876]
[Cat. Dublin 1987, 7, No. 471]

Production date
1540

Production date

1540

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of the support: 22.5 x 16.8 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of the support: 22.5 x 16.8 cm

  • [National Gallery of Ireland, revised 2013]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia below the centre on the shaft of the cross: winged serpent with elevated wings facing right and dated '1540'; an unidentifiable mark is visible beneath to insignia

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia below the centre on the shaft of the cross: winged serpent with elevated wings facing right and dated '1540'; an unidentifiable mark is visible beneath to insignia

Inscriptions and Labels
  • above the cross: 'PATER IN MANUS TUAS COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM'

'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit'
[Cat. …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • above the cross:

  • 'PATER IN MANUS TUAS COMMENDO SPIRITUM MEUM'

  • 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit'

  • [Cat. Dublin 1987, 6, No. 471]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • Reverse of the hollow panel: - bottom centre:

  • White label of Cholmondely sale, Christie's, London, lot 39

    • bottom left corner:

  • Exhibition label from Cranach-Ausstellung, Deutsches Museum, Berlin, 1937

    • top, centre:

  • Stencil of number 670

  • [Cat. Dublin 1987, 6, No. 471]

Owner
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
Repository
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
Location
Dublin
CDA ID
IE_NGI_NGI-471
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/IE_NGI_NGI-471/

Provenance

  • Reginald Cholmondely, Condover Hall, 1876-97
  • his sale, Christie's, London, 6 March 1897, lot 39
    [Cat. Dublin 1987, 6, No. 471]
  • purchased, 1897
    [National Gallery of Ireland, revised 2013]

Exhibitions

Wrexham 1876, no. 115
London 1906, no. 32

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Sitt, Monsees 2015 310, 313 Fig. 1
AuthorMartina Sitt, Désirée Monsees
TitleDer einsame Christus am Kreuz - ein Bildtypus von Cranach dem Jüngeren in der pro-reformatorischen, bildlichen Argumentation
Publicationin Elke A. Werner, Anne Eusterschulte, Gunnar Heydenreich, eds., Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder
Place of PublicationMunich
Year of Publication2015
Pages308-317
Show Literature
Cat. Dublin 1987 6-8 471 Figs. 3, 59
AuthorDavid Oldfield
EditorNational Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
TitleGerman Paintings in the National Gallery of Ireland. A complete catalogue
Place of PublicationDublin
Year of Publication1987
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. London 1906 32
Authorn. a.
TitleExhibition of Early German Art, [Burlington Fine Arts Club, London]
Place of PublicationLondon
Year of Publication1906
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. Wrexham 1876 No. 115
Authorn. a.
TitleArt Treasures Exhibition
Place of Publication[Wrexham]
Year of Publication1876
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

'The town to the left of the cross is an ideal German equivalent to Jerusalem but the large building to the right of the cross can be identified. It shows the south-east wing of Schloss Hartenfels in Torgau [...]. This particular wing was a new addition to the castle on the banks of the river Elbe which was built under the direction of the architect Konrad Krebs between 1533 and 1538.'

[Cat. Dublin 1987, 8, No. 471]

  • Christ on the Cross, 1540

Images

Compare images
  • overall

Technical studies

1987Technical Examination

Support

- single oak panel

[Cat. Dublin 1987, 6, No. 471]

Condition Reports

Date1987

'The panel of 'Christ on the Cross' is set inside a slightly larger hollow panel, 25.7 x 19.2 cms. This insertion occurred sometime before 1897, the date of the Christie's sale tag on the reverse of the hollow panel. The hollow panel may have been added to accommodate a frame. The support of Christ on the cross is generally in good condition. Some slender cracks can be seen on the left side of the sky and X-rays reveal a small knot of wood with star-shaped cracks under Christ's right arm. The paint surface is in good condition apart from some retouching which are noticeable in Christ's legs and cloak.'

[Cat. Dublin 1987, 6, No. 471]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Christ on the Cross', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/IE_NGI_NGI-471/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ on the Cross', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/IE_NGI_NGI-471/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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