Lucas Cranach (1472-1553)
The prolific and versatile painter, Lucas Cranach, was one of the major artists of the German Renaissance.
Cranach left for Flanders upon the request of Frederick the Wise and presented himself to Margaret of Austria, whose court was the place to be for artists and humanists from various countries. There, mixing with such brilliant company, he was able to perfect his art. He instilled his work with a refined elegance and took an interest in new themes which met with resounding success, such as his paintings of strong and virtuous women, depicted down to the waist. Portrayals of nudes are central to his work. These pictures, ambiguous and often complex in meaning, were enormously popular.
