Christ and the Adulteress 1545 - 1550

Lucas Cranach the Younger's "Christ and the Adulteress" (1545-1550) depicts the biblical story of Jesus confronting the accusers of an adulterous woman. Cranach the Younger was a German Renaissance painter and a follower of the Northern Renaissance style. The painting features a vibrant palette and detailed figures, highlighting the emotional tension of the scene. This small-scale oil painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The scene is set in an open courtyard, with a crowd of figures surrounding the central figures. The adulterous woman is depicted in the center of the painting, her face contorted in shame, while Jesus, dressed in a red and blue robe, extends his hand to protect her from the judgmental crowd.