LUCAS CRANACH THE ELDER (1472-1553)

The First Tournament

Details

LUCAS CRANACH THE ELDER (1472-1553)
The First Tournament
woodcut, 1506, on laid paper, watermark Rampant Lion in Crowned Cartouche (not in Briquet, Heawood or Piccard), a good and clear, probably slightly later impression of this rare print, second, final state, with margins
Block 262 x 372 mm.
Sheet 272 x 380 mm.

Provenance

Peter Birmann & Söhne (19th century), Basel (Lugt 414c).
Jacob Heinrich von Hefner Alteneck (1811-1903), Munich (Lugt 1254); probably his posthumous sale, Helbing, Munich, 9 June 1904.

Literature

Bartsch 124; Hollstein 116

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Tim Schmelcher International Specialist

tschmelcher@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2268

Lot Essay

The print depicts the main square of Wittenberg during a large tournament with various spectators around the enclosure and in the windows of the surrounding buildings. It is dated 1506 and was thus created two years after Cranach had entered the service of Duke Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, at his court in Wittenberg in 1504. Members of the Ducal family can be seen observing the tournament from the balcony festooned with a tapestry and the Saxon coat-of-arms.

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