Lot 1224A | Franz Kessler | Portrait of Dr. Johann Michael von Cronenburg

KESSLER, FRANZ
1580 Wetzlar - after 1650 Danzig


Title: Portrait of Dr. Johann Michael von Cronenburg.
Mayor of Cologne 1633/1634.
Date: 1633.
Technique: Oil on wood.
Mounting: Laid down on wood.
Measurement: 102.5 x 78.5cm.
Notation: Signed, dated and inscribed upper left: "Anno Aetatis sua 65 (54 painted over) 1633 (1622 painted over) FKeßler fec".
Frame: Framed.

Literature:
W. Schäfke (ed.), Kölnischer Bildersaal. Die Gemälde im Bestand des Kölnischen Stadtmuseums einschließlich der Sammlung Porz und des Kölner Gymnasial- und Stiftungsfonds, Cologne 2006, no. 0364, pp. 141-142.

Provenance:
Private ownership, Germany.

The present work is the original painting after which two copies are in the holdings of the Cologne City Museum. In the book 'Kölnischer Bildersaal', Cologne 2006, under the number 0364, p. 141, Franz Kessler's original painting is discussed in detail. It states: "Aus der Literatur ist bekannt, dass ein Porträt Cronenburgs von 1622 nach seiner Wahl zum Bürgermeister um die Amtstracht ergänzt und die Daten entsprechend übermalt wurden." ('It is known from the literature that a portrait of Cronenburg from 1622 was supplemented with the official costume after his election as mayor and the dates were painted over accordingly').