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Philip Melanchthon

Lucas Cranach the Younger

1561

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Philip Melanchthon is a 1561 ink by Lucas Cranach the Younger, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Lucas Cranach the Younger
When & what style?: 1561 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white drawing of a serious-looking man in old-fashioned clothes. His long robe has puffy sleeves, and he stands with one hand tucked inside. A fur collar frames his face, and his hair is curly. Behind him, there’s a small decorative design that looks like a coat of arms. The lines are all carved into the paper, a technique called woodcut. This style was common in the 1500s. Next, check out woodcut to see how artists made prints like this.