Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise'

Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise'

Title

Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise'

[cda 2020]

Painting on beech wood

Medium

Painting on beech wood

[Online database Koller Auktionen, accessed 01.10.2020]

A bust-length portrait of Friedrich the Wise in three quarter profile against a neutral background, facing to his left. The elector is wearing a fur-trimmed black cloak over a white pleated shirt. His black beret is placed at an angle on his head.

[cda 2020]

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

[Online database Koller Auktionen, accessed 01.10.2020]

Production dates
1528
1525

Production dates

1528

[dated, the figure '5' may have been changed to an '8' during a previous restoration campaign]

1525

'during a previous restauration campaign the figure '5' was changed to an '8'' [Online database Koller Auktionen, accessed 01.10.2020]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 38.7 x 25.3 cm

Dimensions

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia at the left above the sitter's proper right shoulder: serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '152[8]'; in black paint (evidence of retouching, suggests this date should read '1525')

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia at the left above the sitter's proper right shoulder: serpent with elevated wings, facing right and dated '152[8]'; in black paint (evidence of retouching, suggests this date should read '1525')

Inscriptions and Labels
  • on paper pasted on to the lower third of the panel (recto):
    the text is no longer legible

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on paper pasted on to the lower third of the panel (recto):

  • the text is no longer legible

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P461
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P461/

Provenance

Exhibitions

Basel 1974, no. 189

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Basel 1974/1976 298 189
AuthorDieter Koepplin, Tilman Falk
TitleLukas Cranach. Gemälde, Zeichnungen und Druckgraphik
Volume1, 2
Place of PublicationBasel, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1974
Link http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:16-diglit-104522
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

According to the entry in Koller’s auction catalogue there is a very similar version of this painting in Schloss Gottorf [DE_SHLM_NONE-001] dated '1525'. Moreover it also suggests that if the overpaint detected around the signature and the date is taken into consideration it is possible that the date on this painting may also have originally read ‘1525 rather than '1528'. The entry also lists a further 4 versions, including two with text, one in a private collection [PRIVATE_NONE-P244], the other in Huis Bergh, Holland [NL_SSHBH_43]. The remaining two are without text, one in the Barnes Foundation, USA [US_BFP_BF867] and the other formerly in Blankenburg Castle in the Harz.

[See online database Koller Auktionen, accessed 01.10.2020]

  • Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise', 1528

Images

Compare images
  • overall

Technical studies

2019Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

The infrared reflectogram shows an underdrawing similar to that found on other paintings firmly attributed to Cranach or his workshop.[Online database Koller Auktionen: https://www.kollerauktionen.ch/de/335153-0214-1188-LUCAS-CRANACH-D.-Ae.-UND-WERKST-1188_462197.html?RecPos=3; accessed 01.10.2020]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise'', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P461/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of Elector Friedrich III, called 'the Wise'', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P461/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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