A Saxon Prince on Horseback
Original title: A Saxon Prince on Horseback
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike most related equestrian portraits of its time, this woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder places a Saxon prince on horseback not in dramatic motion but in a deliberately calm, representative pose. A date is missing; the sheet survives in the second of two states (after Hollstein). Ruler portrait and landscape are joined here.
Description
The prince wears a fur jacket and a hairband, suggesting late medieval or early modern fashion. His horse stands still, and a servant has also taken a place on the animal beside him. Trees and a village with houses and church towers form the backdrop, while two coats of arms hang from a tree at the top. The execution is detailed, and the light falls evenly without shading, as is typical of woodcuts from this period.
Context
As court painter to the Saxon electors in Wittenberg, Lucas Cranach the Elder produced numerous portraits and representational images of the ruling house. Exactly when this woodcut was made is not recorded, but the layout of the sheet suggests a court commission. The coats of arms refer to Saxon heraldry and underline its official character. Printed sheets of this kind often helped spread the ruler's image.
Impact
The print feels dignified and statuary thanks to the horse's calm stance and the symmetrical arrangement of the figures. The detailed landscape gives the view and the coats of arms narrative depth, transporting the beholder into the courtly world of the early sixteenth century.
Technique
Printed in black on paper, the sheet measures 17.6 × 12.2 cm. As is usual with woodcuts, the second state may show deviations from the first. Fine lines can be achieved with this technique, but not gray tones, which explains the even lighting effect.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)