Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

Title

Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony

[cda 2013]

Painting on beech

Medium

Painting on beech

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Bust portrait of the elector with a beret and fur-collar, shown in three-quarter profile, facing to his right. A handwritten text on paper completely covers slightly more than the lower third of the panel.

Attributions
Lucas Cranach der Ältere
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Lucas Cranach der Ältere

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Bünsche 1994]

Production date
about 1532

Production date

about 1532

[Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]
[Pendant dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 20.7 x 14.4 x 0.3 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 20.7 x 14.4 x 0.3 cm

  • [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Signature / Dating

none

Inscriptions and Labels

Recto: - top left and lower third of the panel, handwritten on an attached sheet of paper (parchment):
'U …

Inscriptions and Labels

Inscriptions, Badges:

  • Recto:

    • top left and lower third of the panel, handwritten on an attached sheet of paper (parchment):
  • 'U ... Johanns ...Churfürst vnndt ...e gk zu Sachssen

  • Nach meins Brudren seligen end, Bleib vf mir das gantz Regiment, Mit grosser Sorg vnd mancher fahr, Da der Baur toll vnd töricht war. Die aufruhr, fast inn allem Landt, wie gros ... wald entbrandt. Welchs ich half dempfen mit Gott, Der Teutsches Land errett aus nott. Der Rottengeister feindt ich war, Hilt im land Gotts wort rein und clar. Gros drawen, bittern Haß vnd neidt, Vmb Gottes willen ich leidt. Frey bekandt ichs aus Hertzen grundt Vnd personlich ich selbst da stundt. Vor dem keyser vnd ganzem Reich, Von fürst... gschah vor nie deßgleich. Solchs gab mir mein Gott besunder Vnd für der Welt war ein Wunder.

  • Umb Land vnnd [l]eut zubringen mich, Hofft beide freund und feind gewislich. Ferdinand Zum Dänische Konig gemacht, Vnd Sein Mahl ich allein anfacht. Damit das alte recht bestündt, In der gulden Bul... gegrundt Wiewol solchs grosen Zorn erregt, Mich doch mehr recht denn gunst bewegt. Das Hertz gab Gott dem Keyser Carl, Mein guter Freund Zuletzt er ward. Daß Ich mein end in fried beschlos, Fast sehr den Teuffel dar verdros. Erfahrn hab ichs ... Zeugen thar Was Gottes w... sagt vnd ist wahr. Wer Gott ... vertrauen kann, Der bleib ein ...rdorbner Man. Es zürne teufel ... der Welt, Den Sieg er doch zuletzt behelt.'

  • [Bünsche 1994, 47]

Stamps, Seals, Labels:

  • at the bottom right on the recto of the panel: '234' as well as 2 labels: 'B. 486' and '546.F 529'

  • Reverse of the panel: four seals with cyrillic lettering

  • [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Owner
Private Collection
Repository
Schloss Gottorf, Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte, Schleswig
Location
Schleswig
CDA ID
DE_SHLM_NONE-002
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-002/

Provenance

  • 14.04.1877 Christie's London, Lot 647 (sold with Lot 646, Portrait of Friedrich the Wise)
  • 1932 at the art dealer Vicars Brothers, London, lot 647 (in one frame with a Portrait of Friedrich the Wise)
    [letter to D. Koepplin, 2000; Koepplin Archive]
  • since 1993 on loan from a private collection to the museum in Schleswig
    [Schloss Gottorf, revised 2013]

Exhibitions

Eisenach 1998

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Bünsche 1998 A 61-63 Figs. 8.1, 8.2 [detail], 8.3 [detail]
AuthorBernd Bünsche
TitleDie Verwendung von Lochpausen bei der Anfertigung der Fürstenportraits durch Lucas Cranach den Älteren
Publicationin Ingo Sandner, Wartburg-Stiftung Eisenach and Fachhochschule Köln, ed., Unsichtbare Meisterzeichnungen auf dem Malgrund. Cranach und seine Zeitgenossen, Exhib. Cat. Eisenach
Place of PublicationRegensburg
Year of Publication1998
Pages61-64
Bünsche 1994
AuthorBernd Bünsche
TitleMaltechnische Untersuchungen zweier Cranach-Gemälde
JournalJahrbuch des Schleswig-Holsteinischen Landesmuseums Schloss Gottorf
Place of PublicationNeumünster
IssueN.F. 4 (1992 - 1993)
Year of Publication1994
Pages37-47
Exhib. Cat. Kronach 1994 354, 355, 356 179 Fig. 179
EditorClaus Grimm, Johannes Erichsen, Evamaria Brockhoff
TitleLucas Cranach. Ein Maler-Unternehmer aus Franken [Festung Rosenberg, Kronach 17.05 - 21.08.1994; Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig 07.09 - 06.11.1994]
SeriesVeröffentlichungen zur bayerischen Geschichte und Kultur
Volume26
Place of PublicationAugsburg, Coburg
Year of Publication1994

Research History / Discussion

The double portraits of Elector Johann the Steadfast and his brother and predecessor Friedrich the Wise were commissioned from the Cranach workshop in large quantity by Elector Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous c. 1532/33. In Budapest and Weimar there are versions of almost identical format to that of the Gottorf panel. In both cases however the text on the paper application has been printed, whereas on our example it was carried out in gold-coloured handwriting, which could suggest a special status within the mass production. Linguistically the text is somewhat earlier than both printed versions, which themselves differ orthographically.

[Dittmeyer, Schloss Gottorf 2013]

  • Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony, about 1532

Images

Compare images
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • overall
  • reverse
  • irr
  • detail

Technical studies

08. 2012Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Materials:

- fluid or dry drawing material, brush? chalk?

Type/Ductus:

- underdrawing with copied lines (traced?)

- thin lines, some unbroken (in the face)

Function:

- binding for the final painted version; lines delineate contours and describe the facial features; no representation of volume

Deviations:

- minor alterations made during the painting process to clearly define form

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- not possible

Comments:

- probably transferred from a pre-existing design (traced lines)

- the artist’s insignia is visible above the sitter’s proper right shoulder

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2013]

  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
  • photographed by Ingo Sandner

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-002/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Johann the Steadfast, Elector of Saxony', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_SHLM_NONE-002/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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