Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony

Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony

Title

Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony

[cda 2021]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Christie's online database, accessed 07.06.2021]

This small, vertical format is probably one of a series of 62 pendant portraits of the electoral brothers Friedrich the Wise and Johann Friedrich the Steadfast that the Cranach workshop was commissioned to produce. Divided horizontally, the top section is occupied by a half-length portrait of the aged Elector of

This small, vertical format is probably one of a series of 62 pendant portraits of the electoral brothers Friedrich the Wise and Johann Friedrich the Steadfast that the Cranach workshop was commissioned to produce. Divided horizontally, the top section is occupied by a half-length portrait of the aged Elector of Saxony, Friedrich III (1463-1525, Elector since 1586), also known as Friedrich the Wise and identified by a caption printed on a paper label attached to the top right corner. The signed portrait complies with a common basic pattern employed for portraits of Friedrich III produced by the Cranach workshop, showing the elector in three-quarter profile facing right against a light blue background. As is typical of these serial portraits he wears a black beret, as well as a fur trimmed mantle over a black robe and an embellished white shirt; his greying hair and beard indicate his advanced years. A printed eulogy attached to the panel in the lower section acknowledges his merits (the painted greenish marbling either side is a later addition).

[cda 2021]

A woodcut bearing the Electoral Saxon coat of arms is attached to the reverse.

[Christie's online database, accessed 07.06.2021]

Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Christie's online database, accessed 07.06.2021]

Production date
1532

Production date

1532

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 21 x 15.5 cm

Dimensions

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia above the sitter's proper left shoulder: serpent with elevated wings, facing to the right and dated '1532'; in black paint

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia above the sitter's proper left shoulder: serpent with elevated wings, facing to the right and dated '1532'; in black paint

Inscriptions and Labels

  • on a paper label at the top right corner: 'Friderich der Drit / Chur- // furst vnd Hertzog zu …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • on a paper label at the top right corner:

  • 'Friderich der Drit / Chur- // furst vnd Hertzog zu // Sachssen.'

    • beneath the image, printed in letterpress on a piece of paper attached to the centre of the panel:

  • 'Fridrich bin ich billich genand // Schönen frid ich erhielt im land. // Durch gros vernunfft /gedult vnd glück // Widder manchen ertzbösen tück. // Das land ich zieret mit gebew // Vnd Stifft ein hohe Schul auffs new. // Zu Wittemberg jm Sachssen land // Inn der welt die ward bekand // Denn aus der selb kam Gottes wort // Vnd thet gros ding an manchem ort. // Das Bepstlich Reich störtzt es nidder // Vnd bracht rechten glauben widder. // Zum Keisar ward erkorn jch // Des mein alter beschweret sich. // Dafur jch Keisar Carl erwelt // Von dem mich nicht wand gonst noch gelt.'

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P504
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P504/

Provenance

  • Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony, 1532

Images

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  • reverse
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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P504/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Friedrich III. the Wise, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P504/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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