Lucas Cranach the Elder Show
New Cranach Painting Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, London
Is Lucas Cranach the Elder, painter, engraver, printmaker and illustrator, the most important artist of the German Renaissance or just another also-ran?
Supporters of Lucas Cranach the Elder (c. 1472-1553) regard him as one of the most important artists of the German Renaissance, but he has had his fair share of critics. Richard Dorment of the Daily Telegraph recently said: "If we judged works of art… giving points for draughtsmanship, composition, handling of pictorial space and grasp of anatomy – then the paintings of Lucas Cranach wouldn't win any blue ribbons".
Exhibition Shows Range and Quality of Cranach's Work
Visitors to London's Royal Academy of Arts will now be able to judge for themselves. The Academy has brought together 70 works in Britain's first major exhibition devoted to Cranach. The show, which highlights the range and quality of Cranach's work, has been presented in collaboration with the Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, who have loaned many prints, drawings and paintings.
About the Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was born in 1472 in Kronach, a small town in Upper Franconia on the eastern boarder of central Germany. Born Lucas Sunder (also known as Sünder or Sonder) he took the name of his birthplace as his surname.
Little is known of Cranach's training but a note written by his cousin in 1556 says he was trained in graphic arts by his father, also an artist. In the year 1500 he was living in Vienna and nothing much is known of his life or work before that date.
He moved to Wittenberg in 1505 and in that same year was appointed court artist to Frederick the Wise of Saxony, a position he held for life. As one of Wittenberg's leading citizens Cranach served three times as Mayor of Wittenberg in addition to his responsibilities to the Elector. As court painter Cranach received an annual salary and performed whatever task was required. Cranach died at the age of 81 at Weimar in 1553.
A Penchant for Nudes
In addition to religious pictures and portraits Cranach had a penchant for highly stylised nudes emphasising the simplicity of the human form such as Apollo and Diana (1526), The Golden Age (1530) and Venus (1532). Venus caused quite a stir when London Underground challenged her appearance as publicity material on London's transport system!
Lucas Cranach established a large and highly productive workshop to satisfy the needs of his varied clientele. His work was always in demand and he was commissioned by both Catholic and Protestant patrons for whom he worked successfully without upsetting either group.
Religious Work and Distinctive Portraits
Cranach produced a number of deeply devotional pieces. The Triptych with the Holy Kinship, dated 1509, is just one of these. He is also known for his distinctive portraits. Cranach was a lifelong friend of Martin Luther (1483-1546) of whom he produced several portraits. The Portrait of Luther shown here was painted in 1525. Cranach also designed woodcuts for Luther's translation of the New Testament and painted many alter pieces for Lutheran churches.
Visitors to the exhibition can decide for themselves whether Lucas Cranach the Elder was indeed one of the most important artists of the German Renaissance or just another mediocre craftsman. The exhibition will run from 8th March to 8th June 2008. The Royal Academy is open 10am to 6pm daily, Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Admission fees: £8, £7 concessions, and reduced rates for children and students. Tickets can be booked through the Royal Academy's website or telephone: +44 (0)870 848 8484.
Source:
- Cranach, exhibition catalogue, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2008
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