Cranach's Crucifixion should be seen in light of Luther's ideas. The emphasis upon the recognition of Christ's sacrifice by witnesses to his death on the Cross is a clear reference to one of the central tenets of Lutheran theology: that sinful mankind can be reconciled to God only by faith
Cranach's Crucifixion should be seen in light of Luther's ideas. The emphasis upon the recognition of Christ's sacrifice by witnesses to his death on the Cross is a clear reference to one of the central tenets of Lutheran theology: that sinful mankind can be reconciled to God only by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. The scene is crowded with figures that are symbolically arrayed at the right and left hand of Christ. To his right, the Virgin collapses into the arms of John the Evangelist, while the grieving Magdalene embraces the Cross. The Good Thief and Longinus, the Roman spear bearer who converted at Christ's death, gaze directly at him. They are contrasted with the brutish soldiers on his left, who ignore him and cast lots for his garments at the foot of the Cross. Cranach positioned the contemporary figures of a monk, a cardinal, and a Turk behind the Cross, among the unenlightened.
[Indianapolis Museum of Art, revised 2012]
At the bottom centre: coat of arms of the Dassel family
[Indianapolis Museum online, accessed 20.09.2023]
see also: [Hefner 1878 A, 113] [Hefner 1878 B, pl. 151]
- Attribution
- Lucas Cranach the Elder
Attribution
| Lucas Cranach the Elder | [Indianapolis Museum of Art, revised 2012] |
- Production date
- 1532
Production date
| 1532 | [dated] |
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of support: 30 x 21 1/2 inch
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 30 x 21 1/2 inch
75.8 × 55 cm
Dimensions of support: 76 x 54.5 cm
[Friedländer, Rosenberg 1979, no. 218]
- Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom centre: winged serpent and dated '1532'
Signature / Dating
Artist's insignia at the bottom centre: winged serpent and dated '1532'
[cda 2012]
- Inscriptions and Labels
- at top of cross: 'INRI'
- bottom left: 'GENEROSO DNO HENRICO RANTZOVIO VICARIO REGIS DANIAE / // PRODUCI CIMBRICO D.D. HARDWIGVS …
Inscriptions and Labels
Inscriptions, Badges:
- at top of cross: 'INRI'
- bottom left: 'GENEROSO DNO HENRICO RANTZOVIO VICARIO REGIS DANIAE / // PRODUCI CIMBRICO D.D. HARDWIGVS A DASSEL IC.CAESAR. // XXVI DIE OCTOBRIS. ANNO CD.D.XCVI' (Given to the Honorable Henry Rantzau, Vicary of the King of Denmark, Nobleman of Holstein, by Doctor Hardwig of Dassel, in the Emperor’s Service, on the 26th day of October, 1596)
- bottom centre: coat of arms of the Dassel family
Stamps, Seals, Labels:
Reverse of the panel: upper left corner:
- 2 round stamps, purple ink: 'Zentralstelle für Denkmalschutz * im Bundesm…f. Unterricht'
- round stamp, black ink: illegible
- black ink, handwritten: 'N 59'
- round stamp, purple ink: 'BUNDESDENKMALAMT * WIEN *'
upper right corner:
- two marks, pencil: '+ +'
left side:
- 2 rectangular purple stamps, scratched out in pencil: illegible
left side (centre):
- round black stamp with blurred writing: '…ETTE PA..TICIE.. L… •PARIS•'
- paper label with decorative boarder 'Gróf Migazzy Antónia.'
lower left corner:
- round stamp, purple ink: 'POST ZOLLAMT• …N..ONUL'
- round stamp, purple ink: illegible
lower right corner:
- round stamp, faded ink: illegible
- round stamp, black ink: 'PO..T ZOL…CHEN', mostly illegible
- Owner
- Indianapolis Museum of Art, The Clowes Collection
- Repository
- Indianapolis Museum of Art
- Location
- Indianapolis
- CDA ID
- US_IMA_2000-344
- FR (1978) Nr.
- FR218
- Persistent Link
- https://lucascranach.org/en/US_IMA_2000-344/
![The Pfirtsch Altar: St Martin [fixed wing panel, left]](https://lucascranach.org/imageserver-2022/DE_BStGS_6264_FRSup007/01_Overall/DE_BStGS_6264_FRSup007_2010_Overall-s.jpg)
![The Pfirtsch Altar: St. Stephan [fixed wing panel, right]](https://lucascranach.org/imageserver-2022/DE_BStGS_6262_FRSup008/01_Overall/DE_BStGS_6262_FRSup008_2011_Overall-s.jpg)
