The Elector Frederic the Wise of Saxony (1463-1525) with the Saints Ursula (left) and Genevieve (right) 1510 - 1512

Lucas Cranach the Elder painted this portrait of Elector Frederic the Wise of Saxony, flanked by Saint Ursula and Saint Genevieve, sometime in the early 16th century. Cranach was a court painter during a tumultuous period marked by religious reformation and shifting political alliances. The painting intertwines the earthly power of Frederic with the spiritual authority of the saints. Frederic, known for his role in protecting Martin Luther, is presented here as a devout figure, his hands clasped in prayer. Ursula and Genevieve, both female saints, stand as protectors, yet their presence also speaks to the complex negotiation of religious and gendered identities. The saints, with their serene faces, offer a contrasting vision of feminine virtue. Cranach’s work invites contemplation on how personal faith intersects with public life, and how those intersections are shaped by gendered expectations. The work asks us to consider whose stories are told, and how they are remembered.