Professed "painter of the Reformation," Lucas Cranach the Elder created many pieces of artwork during his career, but his work that sprouted from the end of the Renaissance and beginning of the Reformation was truly inspiring (Johnson). Judith with the Head of Holofernes, an inspiring oil on panel by Cranach, impacted society in multiple ways that would remain influential even after his death. Cranach's work played a critical role in the beginning of the Reformation and pleased the royal court
The elaborate artwork by Lucas Cranach the Elder titled: Virgin and Child, 1513-1514, depicts the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus sitting on what appears to be a bench under a tree. In the background and to the left of The Virgin Mary is a castle, or what could be considered as a mansion of some sort. Closer to the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, but still behind them, is a path that is surrounded by grass. This path could signify that they are in a park. One of the colors used in the painting is blue
In art, religious works and iconography are found all throughout history, but is distinctly prominent during the Renaissance. The word renaissance is defined as the rebirth or reawakening; in the case of the 14th through the 17th centuries, it is the rebirth of painting, technique, and Christianity. The Renaissance gave way to the appearance of the transfigured and the idea that religious imagery is not only a valuable means of communicating biblical stories, but of a method of revival and hope.
During the turn of the 16th century, artists Hans Holbein the Younger and Lucas Cranach shifted to new commissioning political patrons residing in court who changed the artist’s typical subject matter to both i power portrait paintings and humanist style portrait paintings. Both Cranach and Holbein worked under the patronage of a major court as well as wealthy patrons who mainly requested humanist and formal portraits. Cranach was born in East Germany and quickly settled in Vienna working under commissions
Barlett’s Familiar Quotation. Ed. John Barlett. New York: Philosophical Library Inc, 1965. ThinkExist.com Quotations. “Forgiveness quotes”. ThinkExist.com Quotations Online 1 Apr. 2014. 8 May. 2014 "Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Lucas Cranach the Elder: Judith with the Head of Holofernes (11.15). 9 May 2014. . Wallach, Van. "snake (reptile)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. 9 May 2014. .