Mary Cleophas and Alphaeus 1509

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted “Mary Cleophas and Alphaeus”, at an unknown date, a work that provides insight into the cultural and religious context of the 16th century. Cranach, a court painter and close friend of Martin Luther, positions Mary Cleophas, traditionally considered the mother of several apostles, in a tender domestic scene. She breastfeeds one child while another, sits at her feet engrossed in a book. This depiction subtly elevates the maternal role within the religious narrative, a theme that resonated during the Reformation, where the emphasis shifted towards personal faith and family values. The formal attire of Alphaeus, Mary’s husband, suggests a family of means, reflective of Cranach's patronage among the wealthy merchant class. The landscape in the background, a break from traditional religious iconography, brings an element of the everyday into the divine. Through this intimate portrayal, Cranach humanizes religious figures, inviting viewers to connect with them on a personal level, thus reflecting the changing spiritual and social landscape of the time.