Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

Titles

Judith with the Head of Holofernes

[letter from D. Koepplin to Sotheby's New York, in the Archive D. Koepplin 2011]

Portrait of a Woman

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

Painting on canvas, transferred from panel

Medium

Painting on canvas, transferred from panel

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

This elegant idealised portrait is a characteristic example of Lucas Cranach the Younger's work in the mid-sixteenth century. Set against a green velvet drape, which sets off her red dress and dainty cap, the sitter appears to be one of Cranach's noble class patrons. However, the panel was originally larger,

This elegant idealised portrait is a characteristic example of Lucas Cranach the Younger's work in the mid-sixteenth century. Set against a green velvet drape, which sets off her red dress and dainty cap, the sitter appears to be one of Cranach's noble class patrons. However, the panel was originally larger, depicting the subject of Salome with the Head of John the Baptist. In 1915 it was included in the sale of Highly Valuable Paintings by the Great Masters.... from the Blakeslee Collection, described as The Jeweler's Daughter, with the head of John the Baptist painted over and replaced by a box filled with jewellery. Before being sold in the sale at the Anderson Galleries in 1934, the picture was cut down and the composition was adjusted.

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Younger

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

Production dates
1540 - 1560
about 1540

Production dates

1540 - 1560

[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

about 1540

An old photo-certificate from Max J. Friedländer, dated 16 September 1932, ascribed this painting to Lucas Cranach, the Elder, datable to circa 1540.[Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

about 1540 - 1550

[letter from D. Koepplin to Sotheby's New York, in the Archive D. Koepplin 2011]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 57.2 x 48.2 cm (cropped)

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 57.2 x 48.2 cm (cropped)

  • [Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at top left: serpent with dropped wings, facing right; in yellow paint

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at top left: serpent with dropped wings, facing right; in yellow paint

  • [cda 2019]

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P257
FR (1978) Nr.
FR359E
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P257/

Provenance

  • private collection, Paris, by 1910
  • with Blakeslee Galleries, New York
  • their sale, New York, American Art Association, 21-23 April 1915, lot 66, titled The Jeweler's Daughter
  • with Ehrich Galleries, New York
  • their sale, New York, American Art Associatin/Anderson Galleries, 18-19 April 1934, lot 38 (as Lucas Cranach the Elder)
  • there purchased by A.L. Erlanger for $1,200
  • 26.01.2012 sold by Sotheby's, New York
    [Sotheby's online database; http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/important-old-master-paintings-n08825/lot.3.html?locale=en; accessed 19-03-2019]

Exhibitions

New York 1943, no. 21

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 359E
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Show Literature
Exhib. Cat. New York 1943 21
AuthorGeorges de Batz
EditorWildenstein, New York
TitleFashion in Headdress, 1450-1943 [Wildenstein & Co, New York, April-May 1943]
Place of PublicationNew York
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
The Art Digest 1943 Fig. p. 7
Authorn. a.
TitleReview of Fashion in Headdress
JournalThe Art Digest
Issue1 May 1943
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
The New York Times 1943 Fig. p. X7
Authorn. a.
TitleReview of three exhibitions
JournalThe New York Times
Issue2 May 1943
Year of Publication1943
Show Literature
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 283e
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

Research History / Discussion

In a letter addressed to Sotheby‘s New York on the 25.12.2011 [Koepplin Archive] Dieter Koepplin stated that this painting is probably FR 359E, albeit reworked. He assumes that the section of the panel showing the dish with Holofernes decapitated head was cut off, the painting was then transferred to canvas and the right arm was added to convert the figure into that of Judith. However, the cda is not aware of any results from a technical examination, supporting this hypothesis.

[cda 2020]

  • Judith with the Head of Holofernes, 1540 - 1560

Images

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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-P257/ (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-P257/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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