An Ill-matched Pair

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

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

[Heydenreich, unveröffentlichter Untersuchungsbericht, 20.05.2021]; [Dannenberg online catalogue, accessed 07.11.2022]

Dating: about 1550 - 1650

Dating

about 1550 - 1650

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 61.7 x 46.3 x 0.9 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 61.7 x 46.3 x 0.9 cm
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

Signature / Dating: none

Inscriptions: none

Inscriptions

Inscriptions:

none

Labels: Reverse of the panel: - two labels: 'Eigentum von Bürgermeister Dr. Eickemeyer, Nürnberg, Bülowstr.
40'; 'Die ‚Buhlerin‘ von Lukas …

Labels

later inscription, stamps, seals, labels:

Reverse of the panel: - two labels: 'Eigentum von Bürgermeister Dr. Eickemeyer, Nürnberg, Bülowstr.
40'; 'Die ‚Buhlerin‘ von Lukas Cranach d.J. stammt aus einer seiner Werkstätten und soll Sybille von Obernitz [...] erben. 9.5.2008 [...] Obernitz'; 'von Res v. O. ‚Die Buhlerin‘ v. L. Cranach f. Sybille Obernitz'
- two seals
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P565
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P565/

Provenance

- private collection
[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]
- Auction house Dannenberg, Berlin, 23.-25.09.2021, Lot 3742 (not sold)
[Dannenberg online catalogue, accessed 07.11.2022]

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 and 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-P564].

[cda 2022]

Evaluation, examination report 2021:

Although it was common practice in the Cranach workshop to smoothen the reverse of the panel with a block-plane and to reinforce the joints with fibres, however on this panel the application of the ground and the painterly execution differ considerably from the methods employed in the Cranach workshop. This artist was obviously not familiar with the workshop practice. A comparison with other copies of this composition suggests it was probably created during the second half of the 16th century or in the first half of the 17th century.

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 12.01.2021]

An Ill-matched Pair, about 1550 - 1650

Images

Technical studies

20.05.2021Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Stereomicroscopy
Infrared reflectography

Support

Methods applied: Stereomicroscopy, infrared reflectography (Osiris, 900 - 1700nm)

- the panel consists of three vertically aligned wooden boards; the reverse was smoothed with a block plane; the edges are bevelled and fibres were applied over the joints on the reverse

Ground and Imprimatura

- very thin pale grey ground without evidence of a barbe.

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is not readily visible in the infrared reflectogram.

Paint Layers and Gilding

No apparent changes or earlier version evident

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

Condition Reports

Date20.05.2021

The painting is in a stable condition

[Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 20.05.2021]

Versions2

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-P565/ (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-P565/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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