Artwork
Portrait of Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Portrait of Martin Luther (1483–1546) is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1558 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work is an oil painting that presents a close‑up view of a man with a round face, white beard and solemn expression.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on panel, the portrait functions as a direct representation of the theologian rather than an allegorical scene rich in complex symbolism.
The work depicts Martin Luther, the central figure of the Protestant Reformation, as its sole subject. Executed in oil on panel, the portrait functions as a direct representation of the theologian rather than an allegorical scene rich in complex symbolism. Created in 1558, twelve years after Luther's death, the image serves as a posthumous commemoration, preserving the likeness of the reformer for veneration and historical record.
The painting's classification as a portrait underscores its primary intent to document the physical appearance and enduring legacy of Luther, reflecting his continued significance within the Protestant tradition during the mid-16th century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1558, this portrait of Martin Luther is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work is attributed to Lucas Cranach the Younger and measures 41.7 cm in height by 32.7 cm in width. As a typical example of the artist's late portraiture, the painting presents the subject in a genre defined by direct, unidealized representation.
The medium of oil on panel was standard for the period, allowing for the detailed rendering of facial features and clothing textures characteristic of Cranach's workshop output. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1558 as an oil painting on panel, commissioned as a portrait of Martin Luther. It entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. The painting measures 41.7 cm in height and 32.7 cm in width.
The painting is housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been part of the permanent collection since its acquisition. Its accession number is not specified in the available records. The work has been exhibited in the museum’s German Renaissance galleries as part of displays focusing on Cranach the Younger’s output and Reformation-era portraiture.
Overview
The work is an oil painting that presents a close‑up view of a man with a round face, white beard and solemn expression. He is dressed in a black robe trimmed with a vivid red collar and a white clerical band around his neck, set against a dark background that isolates his visage.
Artist & collection
