painting, oil-paint, wood
portrait
portrait
painting
oil-paint
figuration
11_renaissance
wood
Dimensions: 82.6 x 62.0 x 0.8 cm
Copyright: Public Domain
Lucas Cranach the Younger painted this portrait of Martin Luther, and immediately we see the reformer holding a book, a powerful symbol of knowledge and enlightenment. This is no mere book, though; it represents direct access to divine wisdom, challenging established religious authority. Consider how this echoes the classical tradition of philosophers holding scrolls, yet here it's transformed, charged with revolutionary religious fervor. This symbol has a non-linear progression. Over time, it resurfaces and evolves. Consider the meaning of texts and holy scriptures in different contexts, taking on new forms. This portrait captures a pivotal moment, and Luther’s intense gaze connects with us on a deep, subconscious level.
Comments
These companion portraits of the two Wittenberg reformators Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon were reunited in the Städel in 2010. The lively modelling of their faces exemplifies the superb painting skills of Lucas Cranach the Younger. The portraits not only needed to portray the sitters in a lifelike manner, however, but also to depict their accomplishments. For this the artist arrived at an original solution. Both reformers display their writings to the viewer – Luther’s in German and Melanchthon’s in Latin and Greek. The two figures were also characterized in different and interesting ways. While Luther appears to nearly burst the picture frame with the considerable bulk of his body, Melanchthon seems comparatively fragile and, moreover, entirely attuned to Luther’s dominating form.
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