Cranach, Lucas, also Kranach; called the Elder

b. 1472; d. 1553

German painter and engraver, born at Cranach, near Bamberg, Bavaria, his family name being Maler or Müller. After 1504 he worked for nearly 50 years at the electoral palace at Wittenberg. In 1508 Frederick the Wise granted him the crest of a winged serpent, with which all his principal pictures are marked. He was an intimate friend of Melanchthon and Luther, painting portraits of both, and being a witness to, as well as one of the connivers at, the latter's marriage to Catherine Bora. He was twice burgomaster of Wittenberg, and died at Weimar. His work shows the effect of the Reformation in changes of direction, religious compositions giving place to portraits of the Lutheran circle and pagan allegories, in which the sensuality of woman is freely expressed. Among his best works are Christ on the Cross, being the altarpiece at Weimar, and The Preaching of John the Baptist. His engravings, both on wood and copper, are excellent but very rare. His works are numerous, and may be seen at Weimar, Prague, Leipzig, Schneeberg, Gotha, Munich and Berlin. In Charity and Jealousy, the National Gallery, London has delightful examples of his nude allegorical figures.

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