Christ crowned with thorns

Christ crowned with thorns

Title

Christ crowned with thorns

[cda 2022]

Painting on canvas

Medium

Painting on canvas

[Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

This devotional image in the tradition of a vera icon, depicting the head of Christ with the crown of thorns against a black background, was conceived to be viewed close-up. Christ fixes his gaze on the viewer and the feature of his slightly open mouth is unusually intimate. The upper

This devotional image in the tradition of a vera icon, depicting the head of Christ with the crown of thorns against a black background, was conceived to be viewed close-up. Christ fixes his gaze on the viewer and the feature of his slightly open mouth is unusually intimate. The upper third of the pictorial space is occupied by the crown of thorns – symbolic of his sufferance.

[cda 2022]

Attribution
Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

[cda 2022]

Production date
before 1750

Production date

before 1750

[cda 2022]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 38.5 x 29.5 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 38.5 x 29.5 cm

  • [Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels

none none

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • none

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Private Collection
CDA ID
PRIVATE_NONE-P558
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P558/

Provenance

  • 2016, private collection, Germany
    [Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

Research History / Discussion

The painting appears to be a copy after a version by Cranach the Elder now in a private collection [PRIVATE_NONE-P169].

[cda 2022]

A technical examination carried out in Cologne to assess the validity of a tentative attribution to Jacopo de Barbari showed that although this painting may have been created in the 16th century the technique is quite different from other paintings more firmly attribute to the artist. [Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

  • Christ crowned with thorns, before 1750

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • x_radiograph
  • uv_light
  • detail

Technical studies

13.03.2016Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Stereomicroscopy
  • Infrared reflectography
  • X-radiography
  • Instrumental material analysis
  • UV-light photography

Support

- plain weave canvas attached to a strainer (horizontally c. 16 threads per cm)

Ground and Imprimatura

- a greyish ground application containing both fine and coarse particles

Underdrawing

- an underdrawingis not visible in the infrared reflectogram (900 – 1700 nm)

Paint Layers and Gilding

Using XRF analysis the following pigments were identified by comparing their optical characteristics with the detected elements:

Eye (white): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Crown of thorns (yellow): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Blood (red): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Right eye (green): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Cheek, right (flesh paint): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochere, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Hair (brown): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

Robe (pale red): Pb: lead white, Zn: zinc white (retouching?)/impurity lead (?), Sn, Pb: lead tin yellow 1, Hg: vermilion, Fe,Mn: iron oxide/ochre, Cu: copper green/blue, siccative (?) Ca: chalk/gypsum

[Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

  • examined by Diana Blumenroth
  • examined by Stephanie Dietz
  • examined by Gunnar Heydenreich

Condition Reports

Date13.03.2016

Generally the painting is in a stable condition.

Support:

  • the tacking margins have been removed from the canvas support

  • it has been wax lined and attached to a strainer, which exhibits extensive woodworm damage and is very fragile

Paint layers:

  • extensive craquelé

  • numerous and in places large retouches from different campaigns

  • some losses are visible in the x-radiograph

Coatings:

  • the varnish appears to be a recent application

[Blumenroth, Dietz, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 13.03.2016]

Versions

Christ crowned with thorns
  • Christ crowned with thorns, about 1520-1525
  • PRIVATE_NONE-P169
  • Painting
  • Private Collection

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Christ crowned with thorns', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P558/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Christ crowned with thorns', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P558/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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