Sibylle of Cleves

Lucas Cranach the Elder, a pivotal figure in the German Renaissance, was born around October 4, 1472, in Kronach, Oberfranken, and passed away on October 16, 1553, in Weimar. His early artistic training likely came from his father, Hans Maler, a prosperous citizen of Kronach, before embarking on a journeyman's journey that would shape his illustrious career. By 1502, Cranach had arrived in Vienna, a cultural hub under Emperor Maximilian I, where he absorbed influences from the Danube School and forged connections with leading humanists. This period marked the beginning of his distinguished path as a painter, graphic artist, and book printer. In 1505, Cranach became the court painter for the Electors of Saxony, serving under Frederick the Wise, John the Constant, and John Frederick the Magnanimous. His workshop, renowned for its prolific output, is believed to have produced around 5,000 paintings, including altar pieces, allegorical works, and portraits of his patrons and key figures of the Reformation like Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon. Cranach's legacy was further cemented by his son, Lucas Cranach the Younger, who continued the family's artistic tradition. Despite the lack of definitive records on his early life, Cranach's influence on Renaissance art and his role in the cultural and religious movements of his time remain undisputed.