Cranach, Lucas the Elder (1472-1553)
Portrait of Frederick the Wise, Duke of Saxony
c.1525
Oil on wood panel, 28.7 × 24.5 cm
Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia
The sitter is Frederick the Wise, Duke of Saxony, who is best known for having protected Martin Luther from the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church. Beginning around 1505, Lucas Cranach worked as court painter to the duke, who granted the artist a coat of arms in 1508. Showing a dragon, the coat of arms can be seen just above Frederick‘s right shoulder. This was a clever way for Cranach to indicate his authorship of the painting. (BF)
Compare:
Cranach, Lucas the Elder (1472-1553)
Frederick III the Wise
1533
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Cranach, Lucas the Elder (1472-1553)
Portrait of Frederick the Wise
1530–1535
Private Collection
See also:
• Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (1463-1525)