Portrait of the Elector John the Steadfast of Saxony (1468-1532) 1531 - 1534
lucascranachdae
statensmuseumforkunst
painting, oil-paint
portrait
painting
oil-paint
german-expressionism
figuration
11_renaissance
history-painting
northern-renaissance
Lucas Cranach the Elder's "Portrait of the Elector John the Steadfast of Saxony" depicts the Elector John the Steadfast of Saxony (1468-1532) in a close-up view. The painting, created between 1531 and 1534, showcases Cranach's mastery of portraiture, capturing the Elector's stern and determined gaze. John the Steadfast is shown in a black cap and fur-lined robe, symbolizing his power and authority. This oil-on-panel painting, part of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst collection, exemplifies the style of German Renaissance portraiture. The detailed rendering of the sitter's face and clothing underscores the importance of this historical figure in the context of the Reformation.
Comments
In 1532 the elector of Saxony, John I (‘The Steadfast’), died, and his son John Frederick I (‘The Magnanimous’) took over the electorate. The occasion was marked by Johan Frederik’s commission of a whole series of portraits of the three electors, Frederick III (‘The Wise’) and the heirs to the throne named above by the German painter Lucas Cranach. The paintings were furnished with printed poems of homage pasted on the front under the portraits. On this portrait of John the Steadfast, however, the printed poem has ended up on the back, and it also looks as if the poems got mixed up, because this one pays homage to Frederick the Wise not John the Steadfast. The many portraits with poems from Cranach’s atelier functioned as political propaganda for the electoral dynasty, and thereby also as Protestant propaganda against the Pope in Rome. John Frederick gave the paintings as gifts to his allies.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
