Judith with the head of Holofernes

Title

[Heydenreich, examination report 2009]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Heydenreich, examination report 2009]

Judith is shown in an elaborate dress, holding a sword in her left hand and the severed head of Holofernes in her right hand. The latter rests on a balustrade in front of her. A curtain behind Judith reveals a view of a landscape.

[cda 2015]

Attribution: Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Heydenreich, examination report 2009]

Production date: 1950 - 1999

Production date

1950 - 1999

"Second half 20th century" [Heydenreich, examination report 2009]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 82 x 54.4 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 82 x 54.4 cm
[Heydenreich, examination report 2009]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia at the bottom left and date '1529' arenot genuine

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the bottom left and date '1529' arenot genuine
[cda 2015]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P091
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P091/

Provenance

no information available

Judith with the head of Holofernes, 1950 - 1999

Images

Technical studies

01. 2010Technical examination / Scientific analysis

X-radiography

created by Hans Portsteffen

2009Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- the initial design was probably executed with a dry, black drawing material, stylus; and subsequently reinforce with a fluid medium and a fine-tipped brush

Type/Ductus:

- relatively detailed underdrawing

- fine lines

- in part incised lines (the round chain links were incised in the ground with a compass)

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines define the main contours and describe essential details within forms as well as facial features; no representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e.g. brushstrokes are visible beside the curtain in the sky – possibly hair from a first, rejected design)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- copy after DE_MHK_GK16 (displaying only minor changes in some details: e. g. the landscape in the background, the text on the coin and the chain around the sitter’s neck)

[Sandner, Smith-Contini, Heydenreich, cda 2016]

photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

Versions

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Judith with the head of Holofernes', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P091/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Judith with the head of Holofernes', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P091/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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