Copy of Frederick the Wise of Saxony
Original title: Copy of Frederick the Wise of Saxony
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the other portraits of Frederick the Wise that Cranach produced in these years, this is a woodcut from 1509 that reproduces the Saxon elector as a copy after a painting. The ruler appears in costly garments with folded hands, flanked by two coats of arms. The woodcut medium sets this sheet apart from the colored portraits and makes it an example of how prints disseminated princely likenesses.
Description
The image shows a man whom tradition identifies as Frederick the Wise of Saxony. Over a vest with a star pattern he wears a fur jacket whose surfaces display geometric ornaments. His folded hands rest on a tabletop. Two coats of arms with sword and cross frame the figure on either side. The year 1510 is engraved at the lower right. The sitter's head forms the center of the layout, with the coats of arms assigned to either side.
Context
As Elector of Saxony, Frederick the Wise was among the most influential princes of his time and emerged as a patron of Martin Luther. Cranach portrayed him several times; such likenesses served both political and personal representation. This woodcut was presumably made as a copy after a painting and was intended to make the ruler's portrait accessible to a wider audience. The date of 1509 and the additional year 1510 suggest it was created in these years.
Impact
The strong black-and-white contrast and precisely drawn lines give the portrait a clear, determined presence. Through the symmetrical arrangement and the princely insignia, the sheet feels dignified and representative. The elaborate clothing and the two coats of arms emphasize the high rank of the sitter.
Technique
For printing, the design was cut into a wooden block and then pulled onto paper—a relief printing process. The nuanced gradation from black to white and the finely worked lines attest to Cranach's craftsmanship. The sheet measures 14 × 10.8 cm, with the actual image area 12.7 × 9.8 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)