Portrait of Friedrich III (the Wise), Elector of Saxony

Portrait of Friedrich III (the Wise), Elector of Saxony

Title

Portrait of Friedrich III (the Wise), Elector of Saxony

[cda 2022]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2022]

This vertical format is divided horizontally. In the top section is a half-length portrait of the aged Elector of Saxony, Friedrich III (1463-1525, Elector since 1586), also known as Friedrich the Wise. A printed eulogy has been attached to the panel in the lower section. On the top right identifyinfg

This vertical format is divided horizontally. In the top section is a half-length portrait of the aged Elector of Saxony, Friedrich III (1463-1525, Elector since 1586), also known as Friedrich the Wise. A printed eulogy has been attached to the panel in the lower section. On the top right identifyinfg the sitter as: 'Friderich der Drit // Chur- // furst und hertzog zu // Sachssen'. The signed portrait complies with the common basic pattern employed for the many portraits of Friedrich III produced by the Cranach workshop: the elector is depicted against a blue background, facing right, he wears a black beret and a fur trimmed coat over a white shirt; the grey tone of his hair and beard suggests his advanced years. The text below, which is written in verse acknowledges the regent’s achievements and the prudent policies intended to avoid war, which brought him the nickname ‘the Wise’.

[cda 2022]

Attributions
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

Attributions

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Senger, Bamberg online catalogue, accessed 31.08.2022]

Lucas Cranach the Elder and workshop

[cda 2022]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Schuler Auktionen online catalogue, accessed 01.09.2022]

Production date
1532

Production date

1532

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 20 x 14.7 cm

Dimensions

Signature / Dating

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

Signature / Dating

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

Inscriptions and Labels
  • in the top right corner, inscription printed on paper and attached to the panel with glue: 'friderich der Drit/ …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

    • in the top right corner, inscription printed on paper and attached to the panel with glue: 'friderich der Drit/ Chur- // furst vnd hertzog zu // Sachssen.'
    • on the lower half of the panel, in verse:

  • '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 // Und Stifft ein hohe Schul auffs new. // Zu Wittemberg im Sachssen land // Inn der welt die ward bekand // Denn aus der selb kam Gottes wort // Und thet gros ding an manch ein ort. // Das Bepstlich Reich störtzt es nidder // Und bracht rechten glauben widder. // Zum Keisar ward erkorn ich // Des mein alter beschweret sich. // Dafur ich Keisar Carl erwelt // Von dem mich nicht wand gonst noch gelt.'

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P540
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P540/

Provenance

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Zimmermann E. H. 1969 287, Fn. 28 Fig. p. 291
AuthorErnst Heinrich Zimmermann
TitleZur Ikonographie von Damenbildnissen des älteren und des jüngeren Lucas Cranach
JournalPantheon
IssueXXVII, 4
Year of Publication1969
Pages283-293
Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

In 1532, the date of this portrait, Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous (1503-1554), upon his accession to the Electorship, commissioned Cranach and his workshop to paint around 60 small scale portrait pairs of his deceased uncle Friedrich the Wise and of his father, Friedrich's brother, Johann the Steadfast (1468-1532) who had succeeded him. These portraits were completed and paid for the following year. The portraits in memory of both the Electors were often accompanied by laudatory verses glued to the panel, as here, and it is highly likely that this painting is one of those commissions. Given the sheer size of this one commission alone, it must be assumed that a large part of these portraits of the Electors were produced with the assistance of Cranach's son and workshop.

[cda 2022]

  • Portrait of Friedrich III (the Wise), Elector of Saxony, 1532

Images

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Condition Reports

Date2017

  • a cradle is attached to the reverse of the panel

[Schuler Auktionen online catalogue, accessed 01.09.2022]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Portrait of 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-P540/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Portrait of 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-P540/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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