Portrait of Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony

Title

[cda 2023]

Painting on beech

Medium

Painting on beech

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

This small-scale half-length portrait shows the Elector Johann Friedrich I in half profile against a blue background, facing to his left. He wears a fur cape over an elaborate black tunic and a white undergarment with a repeat 'S' pattern embroidered on the collar. A ring on the index

Similar portraits of the sitter suggest it is probably one of a pair and may originally have been the companion piece to a representation of his wife, Sybille of Cleves.

[cda 2023]

Attributions: Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder
Master I.S.

Attributions

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder	[Lempertz online, accessed 10.11.2023]; [Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]
Master I.S.	'Ähnlichkeiten mit Werken des Meisters I.S.' (similar to works attributed to Master I. S.) [Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unveröffentlichter Untersuchungsbericht, 02.10.2023]

Production date: about 1535

Production date

about 1535

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 20 x 14 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 20 x 14 cm
[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Signature / Dating: none

Inscriptions and Labels

at the top righthand edge remnants of an inscription: 'JOHANN FRIEDERICH / CHVRFVRST ZV / […] SACHSEN'
repeated …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

- at the top righthand edge remnants of an inscription:
'JOHANN FRIEDERICH / CHVRFVRST ZV / […] SACHSEN'
- repeated 'S' pattern on the collar, embroidered with pearls

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

Paper attached to the reverse of the panel with handwriten text; on top of this in paint: '5'
[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Owner: Private Collection
Repository: Private Collection

CDA ID: PRIVATE_NONE-P620
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/PRIVATE_NONE-P620/

Provenance

Stroganov Collection (according to a handwritten label on the reverse of the frame)
private collection, Belgium
Lempertz, Cologne, 18.11.2023, lot 2010
[Lempertz online, accessed 10.11.2023]

Research History / Discussion

Several features of the support and the painterly execution correspond to the practice typical in Cranach's workshop during the 1530s. However, the underdrawing, executed with a fluid medium and pen and/or brush, appears atypical in comparison with other small-format portrait paintings from Cranach's workshop from the 1530s. At that time, dry drawing media were preferred for portraits. The drawing style and quality differ significantly from works executed by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Orpiment has not yet been detected in any of these portrait paintings, although this pigment was traded in the 16th century at the Leipzig Fair, which is where Cranach acquired his painting materials. The later addition of orpiment during a conservation treatment cannot yet be completely ruled out. However, evidence of the use of lead tin yellow, the yellow pigment commonly used in Cranach's workshop, could not be determined using XRF.

It seems tenable that this painting was created in the Cranach workshop in Wittenberg around 1535. However, aspects of the underdrawing and the materials employed do not exclude the possibility that it was created outside Cranach's workshop or later. Some elements, such as the chain, the borders and the elector’s ring, exhibit similarities with works by the Master I.S. As late as the 1560s, the Master I.S. was still using a fluid drawing medium for underdrawings with similar stylistic features. However, extensive abrasion in the flesh paint precludes an attribution to the Master I.S. The inscription at the top of the picture, which only survives in part, suggests that this painting may have been created as part of a series.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Three other version have almost the same dimensions as this painting: [DE_SMG_SG13], the pendant is dated 1535; [DE_KSVC_M021], signed and dated c. 1536 and [DE_HMF_Pr057-M638]

A slightly larger version has also survived [AT_LGB_128]

[cda 2023]

Portrait of Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony, about 1535

Images

Technical studies

02.10.2023Technical examination / Scientific analysis

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

Support

The following methods of examination were employed:

Stereomicroscopy, XRF-Analyse (Thermo Scientific - Niton XL3t GOLDD+) UV-light, x-radiography (Oehm u. Rehbein, Leonardo/ Varex-Perkin Elmer XRPad2 4336), Infrared reflectography (Osiris 900 - 1700 nm)

- a wooden panel (probably beech) consisting of two vertically aligned boards

- the reverse of the panel was probably recently smoothed and covered with paper

- the panel has been trimmed along the bottom and left edge

Underdrawing

- an underdrawing is visible in the infrared reflectogram, that was probably executed using a fluid medium and a quill or brush

- the contours and some detailas were carefully described

- no significant changes were made to the composition during the painting process

Paint Layers and Gilding

The following elements were detected using XRF-analysis and on the basis of their optical properties the following pigments were identified:

Blue: Pb, Cu, Ca, Fe, Sr

Pb: lead white; Cu: blue pigment containing copper; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?)

Flesh paint: Ca, Pb, Hg, Sr, Fe

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Hg: vermilion; Fe: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?)

Orange: Pb, As, Ca, Fe, S

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); As: orpiment; Fe: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?)

White: Pb, Ca, Sr, (Fe)

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Sr: Ca/ Pb (?)

Reddish yellow: Pb, Ca, Fe, As, Cu, Sr, (Zn)

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); As: orpiment; Fe: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?); Cu: blue/green pigment containing copper (?), siccative (?)

Pale yellow.: Ca, Cu, Pb, Fe, Sr (Mn)

Pb: lead white; Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Cu: blue/green pigment containing copper (?); Fe: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?)

Green: Pb, Cu, Fe, Ca, Hg, Mn, Sr

Pb: lead white; Cu: blue/green pigment containing copper (?); Ca: chalk/ gypsum (?); Fe/ Mn: iron oxide / ochre (?); Sr: component of Ca/ Pb (?); Hg: vermilion

Pigments: lead white, vermilion, azurite, green pigment containing copper and orpiment

The paint was applied with a brush in both opaque and glazed layers. The contours of the head were corrected with the deft appplication of blue paint in the background.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Condition Reports

Date02.10.2023

At the time of examination the painting was in a damaged and unstable condition. In particular the flesh paint and the beard have been overcleaned. The inscription at the top right has been largely removed.

[Blumenroth, Heydenreich, unpublished examination report, 02.10.2023]

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'Portrait of Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, 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-P620/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'Portrait of Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, 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-P620/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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