Adam

Adam

Title

Adam

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

Medium

Painting on limewood (Tilia sp.)

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.18]

The painting depicts Adam as a life-size nude. His he is turned to the right and he looks in this direction. In his right lowered hand he holds an apple on a branch with leaves, and his left hand is raised to his chest. Adam stands on stony ground against

The painting depicts Adam as a life-size nude. His he is turned to the right and he looks in this direction. In his right lowered hand he holds an apple on a branch with leaves, and his left hand is raised to his chest. Adam stands on stony ground against dark green undergrowth, this is in contrast to the flesh paint. Part of a tree is visible along the right edge of the painting and is continued on the pendant painting - Eve.

Attribution
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]
[Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937, no. 101]

Production dates
about 1537
1537

Production dates

about 1537

[Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

1537

[Pendant dated, cda 2021]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 175 x 67.4 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 175 x 67.4 cm

  • [Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten, Berlin - Brandenburg, revised 2011]

Signature / Dating

none

Owner
Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Repository
Grunewald hunting lodge
Location
Grunewald
CDA ID
DE_SPSG_GKI1195
FR (1978) Nr.
FR198
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SPSG_GKI1195/

Provenance

  • since 1793 recorded in the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Palace)
    [Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

Exhibitions

Berlin 1937, no. 101
Berlin 2009/10, no. III.18

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009 A 199-200 No. III.18
EditorStiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
TitleCranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern. Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Most, Wolf et al. 2009 88,90
AuthorMechthild Most, Anja Wolf, Peter Klein, Undine Köhler, Jens Bartoll, Eva Wenders de Calisse
TitleZur Maltechnik der beiden Cranach und ihrer Werkstatt. Ergebnisse der technologischen Untersuchung der Bildtafeln der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Publicationin Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg, Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri-St. Marien, eds., Cranach und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern, Exhib. Cat. Berlin
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2009
Pages86-97
Schoen 2001 117-125
AuthorChristian Schoen
TitleAlbrecht Dürer: Adam und Eva. Die Gemälde, ihre Geschichte und Rezeption bei Lucas Cranach d.Ä. und Hans Baldung Grien
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication2001
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979 109 No. 198 Fig. 198
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
EditorG. Schwartz
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBasel, Boston, Stuttgart
Year of Publication1979
Börsch-Supan 1964 45-46 No. 47
AuthorHelmut Börsch-Supan
TitleDie Gemälde im Jagdschloss Grunewald
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1964
Exhib. Cat. Berlin 1937 38 101 Pl. 85
EditorStaatliche Museen, Berlin
TitleLucas Cranach d. Ä. und Lucas Cranach d. J. Gemälde, Zeichnungen, Graphik
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1937
Friedländer, Rosenberg 1932 166
AuthorMax J. Friedländer, Jakob Rosenberg
TitleDie Gemälde von Lucas Cranach
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1932
Link http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/friedlaender1932
Rumpf 1794 138
AuthorJohan Daniel Friedrich Rumpf
TitleNeuester Wegweiser durch die Königl. Preußischen Staaten. Ein Handbuch für fremde und Einheimische. Beschreibung der aeussern und innern Merkwürdigkeiten der Königlichen Schlösser in Berlin, Charlottenburg und bey Potsdam
Place of PublicationBerlin
Year of Publication1794

Research History / Discussion

‚The first human couple was depicted here by Cranach as two life-size nude figures on separate panels. The tree, which is split down the centre, indicates that they belong together and were originally displayed next to each other. […]

Inspired by Dürer’s famous engraving (1504) and his paintings (1507) Cranach and his workshop have depicted Adam and Eve in more than 50 versions, either on two separate panels or together on one, in different sizes and poses as well as against different backgrounds. The function of these paintings has not yet been completely clarified and probably varied. They may have been used as wing panels, but are also associated with the ‚Weiberliste‘ and warn against female seduction and a disregard of God’s commandments. As the paintings in Berlin were executed in 1537 together with the Passion cycle they may also like it have been intended for the collegial church (Stiftskirche); however as yet no evidence confirming their use as wing panels could be found. Therefore it is conceivable that they were displayed as an ‘Exempla of Virtue’ in a corresponding decorative scheme in a room of the Berlin palace.’

[Elke A. Werner, Exhib. Cat. Berlin 2009, 199-200, No. III.19]

  • Adam, about 1537

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Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

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Entry with no author
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