The artwork titled “Portrait of Martin Luther as an Augustinian Monk” was created by Lucas Cranach the Elder around the year 1523 in Germany. This piece, executed in oil on panel, belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and falls within the genre of portraiture. The dimensions of the artwork are 43.6 by 29.8 centimeters, and it is currently housed in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, Germany.
In the artwork, Martin Luther is depicted dressed in the traditional habit of an Augustinian monk. His attire is rendered in dark, earthy tones which contrast starkly against the lighter background. Luther’s gaze appears contemplative, perhaps reflecting his theological and reformative thoughts that profoundly influenced the course of Western history. His right hand is gently poised on his chest, while his left hand rests on a book, implying his scholarly and religious pursuits. The artist, Lucas Cranach the Elder, uses meticulous brushstrokes to capture the subject’s facial features, conveying both realism and depth.
