Portrait of a Lady

Title

Portrait of a Lady

[cda 2020]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Technical examination report, RayXart, Madrid, 21.09.2001; Koepplin Archive]

This small-scale circular painting, which was later adapted to a square format, shows an idealized portrait of female beauty. The anoymous lady's attire reflects the contemporary fashion at the court of Saxony with her rich scarlet dress, her wide brimmed hat, the massive linked chain and neckband set with precious

[cda 2020]

Attribution: Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Letter from W. Schade to J. Macdonald, Sotheby’s, London, 07.10.2009, Koepplin Archive]
[Letter from D. Koepplin, 27.02.2001, Koepplin Archive]
["Dürfte originaler, etwas serienmäßig gemalter Cranach sein" [Note by D. Koepplin, Feb. 2001, Koepplin Archive]

Production dates: about 1527
1529

Production dates

about 1527	[Letter from D. Koepplin to J. Macdonald, Sotheby’s, London, 15.09.2009; Koepplin Archive]
1529	[dated, abraded and reworked]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 13.2 cm (Diameter); later adapted to a square format 14.4 x 14.2 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 13.2 cm (Diameter); later adapted to a square format 14.4 x 14.2 cm
[Technical examination report, RayXart, Madrid, 21.09.2001; Koepplin Archive]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia at the bottom right: winged serpent and dated '152[9]' [5 or 7 more likely]; in red paint (very abraded and later overpainted)

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the bottom right: winged serpent and dated '152[9]' [5 or 7 more likely]; in red paint (very abraded and later overpainted)

Inscriptions and Labels: On the reverse of the panel: 'AGNES DVCISSA // Otthonis Magni Conjunx // Mater Stematum // Vtriusq Serenissimae Dom …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

On the reverse of the panel: 'AGNES DVCISSA // Otthonis Magni Conjunx // Mater Stematum // Vtriusq Serenissimae Dom // Electoralis // Bavaricae & Palatinae & c.'
(Duchess Agnes wife of Otto the Great Mother of Genealogical Branch of the Electoral Houses of Bavaria & The Palatinate & others.)
[exposé Sotheby’s, London 2009, Koepplin Archive]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P380
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P380/

Provenance

property from a European Noble Family
[exposé Sotheby’s, London 2009, Koepplin Archive]

Research History / Discussion

W. Schade considers the inscription on the reverse to be a complete fabrication, as Emperor Otto I was never married to a duchess called Agnes. Schade presumes that the inscription may have been added to elicit the approval of the Bavarian dynasty. However, it appears to include various mistaken identities.

[Letter W. Schade to J. Macdonald, Sotheby’s, London, 07.10.2009, Koepplin Archive]

Portrait of a Lady, about 1527

Images

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Portrait of a Lady', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P380/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Portrait of a Lady', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P380/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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