Cranach - Tapa dura

Lucas Cranach the Elder was one of the most versatile artists of the German Renaissance, a staunch supporter of the Reformation, and a close friend of Martin Luther. The foremost member of a German family of artists, Cranachâs activities as a painter, printmaker and book illustrator reveal his distinctly individual manner and helped him to create a highly successful workshop. Financially more successful than his contemporary Dürer, his impact on the development of German painting was profound. He created striking portraits and expressive devotional works, but also produced his own brand of erotic female nude, as well as mythological and classical subjects. This book records the first major survey of Cranach to be held in Britain. Beautifully produced, with insightful essays, it is illustrated with over a hundred works which represent the range and quality of the work of this important artist.

Bodo Brinkmann is Curator of Northern Renaissance Painting at the Stadel Museum, Frankfurt. "