Augustus, Elector of Saxony (1526-1586)

The portrait of Augustus, Elector of Saxony was painted in 1565 by Lucas Cranach the Younger as a commissioned likeness of the Saxon ruler, reflecting contemporary court portraiture conventions. It entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum where it remains on display, having been acquired directly from the artist's workshop shortly after its completion. The work measures 214.5 by 103 centimeters and was created on canvas using oil paint, adhering to the stylistic and technical practices documented in the artist's documented oeuvre.

The painting's provenance is straightforward: it was commissioned by the Elector's court, completed in 1565, and subsequently transferred to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where catalog records confirm its presence since at least the mid-19th century.

No records indicate any subsequent private ownership or major exhibition history beyond its continuous display in the museum's portrait gallery.

The portrait of Augustus, Elector of Saxony painted by Lucas Cranach the Younger in 1565 is part of the collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Its accession number is not specified in the available documentation, and it has not been recorded in major exhibition histories.