Artwork
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Martin Luther (1483–1546) is an oil painting. It dates from 1532 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting, created circa 1532 in the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder, portrays Martin Luther, the German monk whose theological theses ignited the Protestant Reformation. Rendered in oil on panel, the work presents Luther in a conventional half‑length pose, clothed in the black habit of an Augustinian friar, thereby emphasizing his identity as a religious reformer. As a portrait, it functions as a visual record of Luther’s contemporary stature and, by extension, his enduring symbolic role as the catalyst for religious change in early modern Europe.
Technique & Style
The portrait of Martin Luther, dated 1532, is executed in oil on a wooden panel, a technique typical of the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder.
The portrait of Martin Luther, dated 1532, is executed in oil on a wooden panel, a technique typical of the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder. The work measures approximately 33.3 cm by 23.2 cm and was painted using oil paint, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue. It belongs to the genre of portraiture and reflects the workshop’s approach to likeness, combining precise facial detailing with a restrained palette and soft modeling. The painting is part of the museum’s collection, indicating that it has been preserved under controlled conditions.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Martin Luther, dated 1532, is attributed to the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder. Executed in oil paint on a panel measuring 33.3 by 23.2 centimeters, the work depicts the reformer as its main subject. While the specific commission details and original ownership chain are not detailed in the provided records, the painting's creation is firmly established in the year 1532.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of their holdings. The piece serves as a significant visual record from the early sixteenth century, produced within the circle of one of the era's most prominent portraitists.
The 1532 oil-on-panel portrait of Martin Luther, attributed to the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work measures 33.3 cm in height and 23.2 cm in width. While the provided records confirm its current location and physical dimensions within the museum's holdings, no specific inventory or accession number is cited in the available sources.
Furthermore, the documentation does not include a history of exhibitions for this specific portrait, limiting the account to its confirmed repository and attribution.
Overview
This oil painting presents a portrait of Martin Luther (1483–1546), the influential German theologian and central figure of the Protestant Reformation. The artist captures Luther with a direct gaze, set against a plain, light blue background. The work emphasizes his presence through a focused depiction, characteristic of portraiture from the period.
Artist & collection
