Artwork
Portrait of a Man with a Red Beard
Portrait of a Man with a Red Beard is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Younger. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Rendered in oil on panel in 1548, the work is a typical German Renaissance portrait that records the sitter’s appearance with meticulous detail.
The painting shows a male sitter with striking red hair, a neatly trimmed goatee, a moustache and a short bowl haircut. Rendered in oil on panel in 1548, the work is a typical German Renaissance portrait that records the sitter’s appearance with meticulous detail. By emphasizing the vivid hair colour and distinctive facial hair, the artist highlights the individual’s identity and social presence.
The portrait was later owned by the Rijksmuseum and is also part of the Mauritshuis collection, underscoring its historical significance.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 64 cm in height and 48 cm in width. The handling reflects the refined Northern Renaissance technique associated with the Cranach workshop, characterized by smooth, evenly applied paint layers and meticulous attention to detail.
Stylistically, the work adheres to the period’s conventions for male portraiture, with a restrained palette dominated by deep earth tones and the vivid contrast of the sitter’s red beard and hair. The composition emphasizes clarity and linearity, with precise delineation of facial features and a reserved, frontal pose that underscores the subject’s status.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Man with a Red Beard was created in 1548 by Lucas Cranach the Younger. Executed in oil on panel, the work belongs to the German Renaissance movement and depicts a man with distinctive red hair and facial hair. The painting was originally part of the collection of Cornelis Hoogendijk before entering the holdings of the Rijksmuseum.
It is also associated with the Mauritshuis collection in provenance records. The work measures 64 cm in height and 48 cm in width.
Portrait of a Man with a Red Beard is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work was previously owned by Cornelis Hoogendijk before entering the museum's holdings. While the painting is associated with the Mauritshuis in some records, its primary institutional home is identified as the Rijksmuseum.
No specific inventory numbers or detailed exhibition history for this work are provided in the available sources.
Overview
Portrait of a Man with a Red Beard is an oil painting completed in 1548 by Lucas Cranach the Younger, a notable artist of the Northern Renaissance. This work captures the likeness of an unidentified man, distinguished by his striking facial hair and hairstyle. The painting is currently housed within the collection of the Rijksmuseum, representing a significant example of portraiture from the mid-16th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Younger (German: Lucas Cranach der Jüngere, IPA:; 4 October 1515 – 25 January 1586) was a German Renaissance painter and portraitist, the son of Lucas Cranach the Elder and brother of Hans Cranach.
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