Hercules and Omphale

Title

[cda 2020]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Letter from G. Holzhausen to D. Koepplin, 26.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

The painting illustrates an episode from the story of Hercules in which he is remanded to three years slavery at the court of Omphale for killing his friend Iphitus in a struggle for power. Hercules is shown with the lion skin across his lap and club positioned idly before him, holding a thread between his fingers. One of Omphale’s servant, standing behind him on the left, delicately places a white handkerchief on his head to simulate a bonnet, and is helped by a female servant on the right.

[cda 2020]

Attribution: Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Letter from D. Koepplin to G. Holzhausen, 28.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

Production date: about 1600 - 1799

Production date

about 1600 - 1799

17th or 18th century [Letter from D. Koepplin to G. Holzhausen, 28.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 50 x 63 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 50 x 63 cm
[Letter from G. Holzhausen to D. Koepplin, 26.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

Signature / Dating: none

Inscriptions and Labels: on the reverse of the panel: - at the centre: a red wax seal showing a coat of arms …

Inscriptions and Labels

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

on the reverse of the panel: - at the centre: a red wax seal showing a coat of arms - diamond - fruit tree- key - wild beast
- above in yellow paint: '13'; illegible text handwritten in pencil
- handwritten in black felt pen on masking tape: '343873'

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P453
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P453/

Provenance

private collection, Hamburg
[Letter from G. Holzhausen to D. Koepplin, 26.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

Research History / Discussion

The composition of this painting is very similar to another later version now in Dessau [DE_AGGD_437]. Both possibly draw on a earlier version by Cranach or his workshop.

[cda 2020]

Hercules and Omphale, about 1600 - 1799

Images

Technical studies

22.09.2014Scientific analysis

Paint Layers and Gilding

Using XRF analysis the following elements were detected and attributed to corresponding pigments

Sample 1: greenish blue trousers of the man

Identification of pigments: Cu: copper green/blue; Pb: lead white (siccative?); Fe: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 2: pink sleeve from the woman on the right

Identification of pigments: Pb: lead white; Al, Si: lake; Fe: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 3-5: dark red sleeve from the second woman on the right

Identification of pigments: Hg: vermilion; Pb: lead white and/or red lead; Fe: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 6: blue from the necklace with precious stones

Identification of pigments: Cu: copper blue (azurite); Pb: lead white (siccative?); HG: vermilion (from the underlying paint layer?); Fe: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 7: yellow from the chain worn by the second woman on the right

Identification of pigments: Pb, Sn: lead tin yellow and/ or lead white/red lead; Hg: vermilion; Fe, Si: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 8: yellowish white paint from the distaff

Identification of pigments: Pb, Sn: lead tin yellow and/or lead white/red lead; Fe, Si: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 9: flesh paint from the woman at the centre

Identification of pigments: Hg: vermilion (from the underlying paint layer?); Pb: lead white; Fe, Si: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 10: the white bonnet of Hercules

Identification of pigments: Pb: lead white; Fe, Si: ochre (possibly from underlying paint layer?); Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 11: as above without ground

Identification of pigments: Pb: lead white; Fe, Si: ochre (possibly from underlying paint layer?); Cr: both indication of modern painting material;

Sample 12-13: light brown hair of the woman on the left

Identification of pigments: Pb, Sn: lead tin yellow and/or lead white/red lead; Hg: vermilion; Fe, Si: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 14: the bluish green sleeve of Hercules

Identification of pigments: Cu: copper green/blue pigment; Pb: lead white (siccative?); Fe: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

Sample 15: orange reddish sleeve of the woman on the left

Identification of pigments: Hg: vermilion; Pb: lead white/red lead; Fe, Si: ochre (?); Ti, Cr: both indication of modern painting material; Ca: chalk (admixture or from the ground)

[Unpublished XRF analysis results, S. Dietz, 22.09.2014]

analysed by Stephanie Dietz

26.12.1973Technical Examination

Support

- beech wood panel with a thickness between 3 - 5 mm

Ground and Imprimatura

- a ground is present

[Letter from G. Holzhausen to D. Koepplin, 26.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

examined by Günther Holzhausen

Condition Reports

Date26.12.1973

Support:

slightly warped; some woodworm

Paint layers:

some flaking, mostly along the edges of the painting
background probably overpainted or reworked

[Letter from G. Holzhausen to D. Koepplin, 26.12.1973; Koepplin Archive]

examined by Günther Holzhausen

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Hercules and Omphale', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P453/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Hercules and Omphale', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P453/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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