Lucas Cranach: From German Myth to Reformation

(Hardback)

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This captivating biography brings Lucas Cranach the Elder into the spotlight for the twenty-first century. The illuminating narrative unveils an artist whose vision transcended personal brilliance as he sought to elevate a nascent nation and foster a sense of community with his work. Perhaps Cranach's most remarkable achievement lay in forging a robust Lutheran community, endowed with a resounding message of salvation. Using prints, the prevailing medium of mass communication, and multiple versions of paintings, he developed an intricate and appealing symbolism that resonated with the populace in early modern Germany. Along with Cranach's more well-known works, Jennifer Nelson explores his extensive repertoire of female nudes, and shows how these seductive artworks not only tantalised his patrons but also constructed a deep history of Germany's notional connections with ancient Greece and Rome.

Author Bio

Jennifer Nelson is associate professor of art history at the University of Delaware. Her publications include Disharmony of the Spheres: The Europe of Holbein's Ambassadors.