The artwork, titled “Christ and Mary”, was created by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a prominent artist from the Northern Renaissance movement. Crafted during the period of 1516 to 1520 in Germany, this religious painting is rendered in oil on a panel. It measures 52.6 by 34.2 cm and currently resides in Friedenstein Castle, Gotha, Germany.
The artwork features solemn and serene depictions of Christ and Mary, captured in a closely cropped composition against a dark background, which accentuates their features and expressions. Both figures have cascading, wavy hair and are adorned in simple, dark garments, focusing the viewer’s attention on their faces. The meticulous attention to detail and smooth rendering of textures exemplify Cranach’s mastery of the oil medium and his contribution to the Northern Renaissance artistic movement.
