Property from a Private English Collection.

LUCAS CRANACH THE ELDER (KRONACH 1472-1553 WEIMAR)
The Annunciation
Inscribed in ink on the left plinth.
Woodcut, printing with its later decorative border as described by Hollstein, with contemporary hand-colouring, trimmed to borderline, two small paper splits in angel's wings and in left column, some paper discoloration, laid down.
25 x 25.5 cm

LITERATURE:
Holl. 6

PROVENANCE:
Sotheby's, London, 1.07.04, Lot 24.

Because painted prints that mimicked paintings were ephemeral works both used for wall decoration and devotion, only very few examples have survived.
Cranach was particularly concerned with the addition of colour to woodcuts, as his involvement in the invention of the chiaroscuro woodcut reveals. Indeed, he produced many prints that were skillfully hand-painted by specialist craftsmen, then called Briefmaler, in order to enhance their decorative appeal.

The devotional character of the present impression is emphasised by the contemporary German inscription in pen and brown ink on the left column's base. The writer quotes Elizabeth's words, on meeting Mary, as cited by the Evangelist Luke: O Selig bist Du, die Du Geglaubt hast. Denn es wird vollendet werden, was Dir gesagt ist von dem Herrn (Luke 11, 27-28).