Portrait of Martin Luther

Title

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]

A portrait of Martin Luther against a neutral background, facing right. He is shown bareheaded and wearing a black cloak.

[Görres, cda 2019]

Attributions: Lucas Cranach the Younger and workshop
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Younger and workshop	[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]
Lucas Cranach the Younger	[Exhib. Cat. Trento 2009, no. 9]
Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Exhib. Cat. Los Angeles 1958, no. 4]

Production date: 1546

Production date

1546

[dated]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 62.2 x 47.6 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 62.2 x 47.6 cm
[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia at the centre left: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left, and dated '1546'

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the centre left: winged serpent with dropped wings, facing left, and dated '1546'
[cda 2019]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P241
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P241/

Provenance

with Findlay Galleries, Chicago
from whom purchased in 1944 by Ruth McC. Maitland
Mr. and Mrs. John Gilbert Dean, Rhode Island
thence by descent in the family
Sotheby's New York, Important Old Master Paintings, 26 January 2006 - 27 January 2006, lot 266
[Sotheby's online database: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]
bought by private owner
sold at Dorotheum, Vienna, 09.06.2020, lot 15
[Dorotheum online database: https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6718116/; accessed 31.08.2020]

Exhibitions

Los Angeles, Art Galleries of the University of California
San Francisco, Palace of the Legion of Honor, California Collects: North and South, January 20-April 6, 1958

Los Angeles, Art Galleries of the University of California, Ruth McC. Maitland Collection, October 5-November 1, 1959
Providence, Rhode Island School of Design, 1980, on loan
Trento, Museo del diocesano tridentino, 04.04 – 26.07.2009, no. 9

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Exhib. Cat. Trento 2009

170

009

Author	Roberto Pancheri, Domenica Primerano
Title	L’uomo del concilio. Il cardinale Giovanni Morone tra Roma e Trento nell’età di Michelangelo [Trento, Museo del diocesano tridentino]
Place of Publication	Trento
Year of Publication	2009

Show Literature

Exhib. Cat. Los Angeles 1958

004

Editor	University of California, Los Angeles. Art Council
Title	California collects: North and South. [Los Angeles, Art Galleries of the University of California; San Francisco, Palace of the Legion of Honor]
Place of Publication	Los Angeles
Year of Publication	1958

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

Dr. Werner Schade confirmed this painting to be by Cranach the Younger and his workshop, based on photographs.

This lot is accompanied by photocopies of letters from Max Friedländer, dated 1927, and W. R. Valentiner, dated 1944, ascribing the portrait to Lucas Cranach the Elder.

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2006/important-old-master-paintings-n08162/lot.266.html?locale=en; accessed 08-03-2019]

Portrait of Martin Luther, 1546

Images

Technical studies

2020Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infred reflectography
Stereomicroscopy

Underdrawing

- thin lines describe the contours of the head; probably black chalk

- representation of volume and shadow in the face with hatching strokes (4-6 parallel lines)

- some of the lines appear to be freehand and have a searching character whereas in other areas like the eyes a single line defines the form

Paint Layers and Gilding

Employing stereomicroscopy and non invasive examination methods the following observations were made:

- the flesh paint is an admixture of vermilion and brown ochre and lead white; shadows were applied with a glaze containing carbon black pigments

- the vermilion is finely ground

- the azurite mixed with lead white used for the background is also finely ground; the particular blue tone might result from green impurities like malachite

- vermilion is also present in the collar and the top edge of the book; lead tin yellow was used for the pages

[Dorotheum online database: https://www.dorotheum.com/de/l/6718116/; accessed 31.08.2020]

examined by Gianluca Poldi

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P241/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Portrait of Martin Luther', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P241/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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