The Nativity

The Nativity

Title

The Nativity

[Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Painting on fir

Medium

Painting on fir

[Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

The panel depicts the adoration of the infant Christ on the Holy Night. The scene showing the newborn child in the crib, the Virgin praying and Joseph with a candle has been rendered full of atmosphere. A crowd of adoring angels, who in their nakedness are only distinguishable from Jesus

The panel depicts the adoration of the infant Christ on the Holy Night. The scene showing the newborn child in the crib, the Virgin praying and Joseph with a candle has been rendered full of atmosphere. A crowd of adoring angels, who in their nakedness are only distinguishable from Jesus by their wings, encircle the austere stone trough. Calm and attentive the Virgin looks at her child, while Joseph holds his right hand protectively in front of the candle as if blinded. The intimate setting on the stone floor with the ox and ass is framed by the old walls. Three shepherds peer over one of the walls and point at the newborn. The annunciation to the shepherds is only referred to incidentally in the background.

[Annette Hörig, in Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Attributions
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Annette Hörig, Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Production dates
about 1515
after 1537

Production dates

about 1515

[Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, no. 53]

after 1537

[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, No. 361B]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 58 x 81 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 58 x 81 cm

  • [Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Signature / Dating

None

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P105
FR (1978) Nr.
FR361B
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P105/

Provenance

  • formerly in the collection of Pastor Schmidt, Ranungen near Kissingen
    [Luthmer 1931, 50]

Exhibitions

Aachen/Berlin 2015, No. 53

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Aachen, Berlin 2015 112-114 53 53.1. p. 113
EditorThomas Fusenig, Michael Rief
TitleSammlerglück. 100 Meisterwerke der Sammlung Marks-Thomée, Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, 12 March-21 June 2015; Berlin, Bode-Museum, 17 July-18 October 2015
Place of PublicationStuttgart
Year of Publication2015
Show Literature
Preuss 2013 61
AuthorSebastian Preuss
TitleMadonna im Bungalow. in einem unscheinbaren Haus im Rheinland tut sich Werner Marks' Kunstkammer auf, die auf dem Erbe des Großvaters fußt
JournalWeltkunst: Zeitschrift für Kunst und Antiquitäten
IssueDec 2013
Year of Publication2013
Pages56-63
Show Literature
Marks 2007 77
AuthorWerner Marks
TitleDie Sammlung Thomée. Geschichte und Kunstwerke, [Dissertation, Technische Universität Berlin]
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2007
Show Literature
Cat. Essen 1995 18-19
AuthorUte Kleinmann, Werner Marks
TitleVon Riemenschneider bis Richter. Kunstwerke vom 12. bis 19. Jahrhundert unter der Schirmherrschaft der Gallinat-Bank
Place of PublicationEssen
Year of Publication1995
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 361B
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 290b
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Show Literature
Luthmer 1931 50 85 66, 67
AuthorKurt Luthmer
TitleDie Sammlung Thomee
Place of PublicationMarburg
Year of Publication1931
Show Literature
  • The Nativity, about 1515

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • irr
  • detail

Technical studies

06. 2015Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, black medium, brush (and possibly also a quill?)

Type/Ductus:

- detailed and freehand underdrawing

- thin to broader lines

- occasional hatching-strokes

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines delineate the main contours, describe essential details within forms and define facial features; occasional representation of volume with hatching-strokes

Deviations:

-minor adjustments were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e. g. the right foot of the putto at the front)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- an assistant to Lucas Cranach the Elder (Master of the Mass of St Gregory? Master of the Pflock Altarpiece?)

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

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

2015Technical Examination

Support

- the panel consists of two horizontally aligned fir planks

[Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Underdrawing

- loose underdrawing, which was probably executed by the same artist who painted the image. Joseph's physiognomy is defined by short curved lines with a prominent small arch on the bridge of the nose, [...]. The fingers are also indicated with only a few brief strokes. In the drapery folds and pockets are defined with specific marks, like sweeping hooks and in part short hatching strokes. The skill of the draftsman is also evident in the details. The group of shepherds at the left in the background is sketched in minute detail. A small pentiment is visible on the central angel in the group on the left - here the painter intervened to make a slight correction.

[Annette Hörig, in Exhib. Cat. Aachen 2015, No. 53]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'The Nativity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P105/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'The Nativity', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P105/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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