Artwork
The Princesses Sibylla (1515-1592), Emilia (1516-1591) and Sidonia (1518-1575) of Saxony
The Princesses Sibylla (1515-1592), Emilia (1516-1591) and Sidonia (1518-1575) of Saxony is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1535 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The figures are rendered to mid-torso against a flat black ground, a compositional device that isolates the subjects and emphasizes their linear contours.
Executed in oil paint on a horizontal lime-wood panel measuring 62 cm in height and 89 cm in width, the painting employs the fine-grained support typical of Cranach’s workshop practice. The figures are rendered to mid-torso against a flat black ground, a compositional device that isolates the subjects and emphasizes their linear contours. Cranach’s handling combines precise delineation of facial features and costume details with a restrained, almost schematic modeling of volume, characteristic of his mature court style. The palette remains subdued, relying on earth tones and metallic accents to articulate rank and identity.
The work exhibits stable, even aging with no significant losses or abrasion reported in the original paint layer, though minor retouching is present along the lower edge. The black background shows consistent saturation, indicating minimal fading of the glazes.
History & Provenance
Created in 1535, this oil painting on linden wood was executed by Lucas Cranach the Elder. The work depicts the three daughters of Henry IV of Saxony and Catherine of Mecklenburg: Sibylle, Émilie, and Sidonie. It is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria.
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) in Vienna, Austria. Created circa 1535 by Lucas Cranach the Elder, the work depicts the three daughters of Henry IV of Saxony: Sibylla, Emilia, and Sidonia. While specific inventory numbers are not provided in the available records, the institution is confirmed as the permanent custodian of this oil-on-panel portrait. The sources do not contain information regarding specific past exhibitions or loan history for this artwork.
Overview
Created in 1535, this oil painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder portrays three Saxon princesses, Sibylle, Emilia, and Sidonia, standing together. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and exemplifies the courtly portraiture typical of the German Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The three figures represent the daughters of the Elector of Saxony, each rendered with individualized facial expressions despite their similar attire. Their poised stance and elegant accessories convey both their noble status and the familial bonds that linked them within the political landscape of 16th‑century Saxony.
Context
Painted during a period when court portraiture served diplomatic and dynastic purposes, the work reflects the broader Renaissance interest in individual likenesses and the display of wealth. Cranach, a leading court painter for the Electors of Saxony, often combined realistic detail with idealized elegance, a balance evident in this group portrait.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
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