Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony

1524

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony is a 1524 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1524 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

The painting is a portrait of a man with a bushy beard and mustache, wearing a fur-trimmed coat and a hat. He is looking to the left, and there are two shields in the upper corners of the image. The man's face is rendered in fine detail, with wrinkles and creases visible on his skin. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to highlight the subject's features. The overall effect is one of dignity and gravitas, as if the man is a person of great importance. If you're interested in learning more about the Renaissance style of painting, you might want to explore the work of Albrecht Dürer.