Lucas Cranach The Elder Biography and Artwork

Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker known for his portraits of German royalty, mythological paintings and biblical scenes with elongated figures. He was born in Kronach, part of the bishopric of Bamberg in Germany. It is speculated that his father, Hans Maler, was his first teacher. Very little is known about his life before around 1500-01 when he settled in Vienna and began working in the humanist circles associated with the newly founded university.

Cranach’s most famous works include portraiture portraying princes and leaders of the Protestant Reformation. In addition to portraiture work, he painted altarpieces and Lutheran subject pictures such as Adam and Eve or John as though they were Greek gods on ceramic plates.The artist also created a large number of mythological pieces; these pieces incorporated themes that were characteristic of much Northern Renaissance art.

Cranach was court painter to the Elector’s court at Wittenberg for most of his career until around 1550 when he retired to Weimar. Considered one of Saxony’s leading painters in addition to being one of the most influential artists in 16th-century German art, Cranach left behind two talented sons who went on to become renowned painters themselves: Hans Cranach and Lucas Cranach The Younger.

All Lucas Cranach The Elder Artwork on Artchive

Artwork Name Year Medium
Johann Friedrich von Sachsen 1532; Germany
Johann Friedrich von Sachsen 1532; Germany
John, Duke of Saxony c.1534 - c.1537; Germany oil,wood,tempera
John Frederick the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony 1535; Germany oil,panel
Judith oil,wood
Judith c.1515; Germany oil,wood
Judith at the Table of Holofernes 1531; Germany oil,canvas
Judith with the head of Holofernes c.1530; Germany oil,wood
Judith with the head of Holofernes c.1537; Germany
Katharina Luther 1526; Germany oil,panel
St. Anthony 1520; Germany
Stigmatization of St. Francis c.1502; Germany oil,wood
St. Catherine
St. Catherine and St. Barbara oil,wood
St. Christopher and St. George c.1514; Germany oil,panel
St. Dorothea c.1530; Germany wood,tempera
St. George with head of the dragon c.1515; Germany oil,wood
Stag Hunt of Elector Friedrich III the Wise 1529; Germany oil,panel
Small winged altar with the Resurrection of Christ, St. Barbara (Left Wing) and St. Catharine (right Wing) 1508 - 1510; Germany oil,panel
Sleeping Nymph of the Spring 1530; Germany oil,wood
Lucretia c.1524 Oil on Panel
Venus and Cupid 1509 Oil on Canvas
The Lamentation 1538 Oil on panel
Judith Victorious c.1530 Oil on Panel
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