An Ill-matched Pair

Title

An Ill-matched Pair

[cda 2022]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Thomas Eißing, report, 01.11.2018]

Numerous versions of this subject have been depicted by Cranach and his workshop. This copy shows a bearded old man embracing a pretty young woman. She returns his advances and looks cunningly at the viewer, making him her accomplice. On the right a curtain behind has been drawn back to

[cda 2022]

Attribution: Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Copy after Lucas Cranach the Elder

19th or 20th century [Koller Auktionen, online catalogue, accessed 04.01.2023][Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Production date: about 1530 - 1650

Production date

about 1530 - 1650

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 59.2 x 45.5 x 1.1 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 59.2 x 45.5 x 1.1 cm
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Signature / Dating: none

Inscriptions and Labels

none Reverse of the panel: - two labels, each with '6972'

a circular stamp
a further inscription at the top edge: …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

none

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

Reverse of the panel: - two labels, each with '6972'
- a circular stamp
- a further inscription at the top edge: '5[?]4'
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P564
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P564/

Provenance

private collection, Switzerland
sold at Koller auction house, Zurich, 20.03.2018, Lot 6419
private collection
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Research History / Discussion

With the exception of a few minor details (like the landscape in the background) this depiction of the subject is almost identical to a version attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder, now in the Germanische Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg [DE_BStGS-GNMN_Gm218].

[Heydenreich, unveröffentlichter Untersuchungsbericht, 12.01.2021]

A further copy of this composition is represented in cda under [PRIVATE_NONE-P565]].

[cda 2022]

Evaluation, examination report 2021:

The support is characteristically different from those employed in the Cranach workshop between 1530-40. To date a thin double layered ground (pale grey over pale red) has not been identified on any other paintings from Cranach's workshop in Wittenberg. The appearance of the paint layers in the infrared reflectogram and the x-radiograph deviates considerably from paintings firmly attributed to the workshop. The pigments identified in Jäger’s laboratory were common both in the Cranach workshop and 16th century northern European panel painting, as well as the following centuries. The application of the paint layers also differs from other paintings from the Cranach workshop (like the modelling of the flesh paint and green tones as well as the hair. This artist was obviously not familiar with the methods employed in Cranach’s workshop in Wittenberg.

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

An Ill-matched Pair, about 1530 - 1650

Images

Technical studies

12.01.2021Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Stereomicroscopy
Infrared reflectography
X-radiography

Support

Methods applied: Stereomicroscopy, infrared reflectography (Osiris, 900 - 1700nm), x-radiography (Seifert ERESCO 150KV/0,5mA / Examion CR 3X-pro)

The panel consists of four vertically aligned limewood boards (from the top left: 12.2/ 13.5 /10.6 9.2 cm). The reverse was smoothed with a toothed plane. Two of the joints are reinforced with dovetail inserts, 5 in total.

Ground and Imprimatura

A very thin pale red ground extending to the edge of the panel. Above this a thin pale grey layer. There is no evidence of a barbe. The pores in the wood are clearly visible in the x-radiograph, indicating that the ground probably contains lead (lead white or red lead pigment?). The structure of the wood is partially visible on the paint surface in raking light.

Underdrawing

An underdrawing is not readily visible in the infrared reflectogram. However, occasional thin lines (e. g. describing the woman's mouth and her hands) executed with a fine drawing instrument may have served as an initial design for the composition.

Paint Layers and Gilding

The x-radiograph shows that the paint was applied in thin layers, in discrete areas. No major changes were carried out during the painting process.

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

11.10.2019Scientific analysis

The following pigments were identified: lead white, vermilion, red iron oxide, brown ochre, azurite, verdigris, lead tin yellow and bone black

[Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Jägers, Dr. Erhard Jägers, Lab report, 11.10.2019]

01.11.2018Scientific analysis

Dendrochronology / identification of wood species

Carbon 14 dating carried out by Dr. Thomas Eißing:

The support was identified as limewood with an estimated felling date between 1470 and 1635.

[Thomas Eißing, Lab report, 01.11.2018]

Condition Reports

Date12.01.2021

The painting is in a stable condition, but damaged.

Previously open joints have been reglued. The numerous indents along the edge of the reverse of the panel were probably caused when the panel was fixed in a frame. There is extensive abrasion and some small losses.

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

Versions

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'An Ill-matched Pair', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P564/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'An Ill-matched Pair', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P564/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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