Christ and the Adulteress

Title

[cda 2020]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Christie's online database: https://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?hdnSaleID=17809&LN=137&intsaleid=17809; accessed 22.06.2020]

In this depiction of the theme Christ is shown at the centre of the composition, holding the wrist of the adulterous woman with his left hand, while pointing at her with both the index and middle finger of his right hand. She wears a dress, the bodice of which is slightly torn open revealing her breast. Her hair is tied back with a thin black band. Her eyes are cast downward. To Christ's right are three bearded men, they seem to be in discussion with him. The one in the foreground has a bag of rocks and is clutching a stone behind his back in his right hand. More men throng behind and look on from Christ’s left. Each with a different facial expression as well as distinct features.

[cda 2020]

Attributions: Copy after Lucas Cranach the Younger
Circle of Lucas Cranach the Younger

Attributions

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Younger	[Letter from D. Koepplin to Christie's, London, 28.09.2002; Koepplin Archive] [cda 2020]
Circle of Lucas Cranach the Younger	[Christie's online database: https://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?hdnSaleID=17809&LN=137&intsaleid=17809; accessed 22.06.2020]

Production dates: 1540
after 1550

Production dates

1540	[dated, not authentic]
after 1550	[cda 2020]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 86.6 x 120 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 86.6 x 120 cm
[Christie's online database: https://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?hdnSaleID=17809&LN=137&intsaleid=17809; accessed 22.06.2020]

Signature / Dating: Artist's insignia at the right: serpent with dropped wings, facing left and dated '1540' (not genuine)

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the right: serpent with dropped wings, facing left and dated '1540' (not genuine)

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P392
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P392/

Provenance

sold at Christie's, London, 13.12.2002, lot 137
[Christie's online database: https://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?hdnSaleID=17809&LN=137&intsaleid=17809; accessed 22.06.2020]

Research History / Discussion

On the 28.09.2002 Dieter Koepplin writes in a letter to Christie's that he does not consider the signature or the date to be authentic. Furthermore he suggests that the painting may well be the one listed in [Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979] as no. 364A.

[Letter from D. Koepplin to Christie's, London, 28.09.2002; Koepplin Archive]

The painting appears to be a copy after [US_ChrMA_71-484] together with [DE_MHK_GK1023] and a Version in Wittenberg.

[cda 2020]

Christ and the Adulteress, 1540

Images

Versions

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Christ and the Adulteress', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P392/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Christ and the Adulteress', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P392/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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