Portrait of Magdalena of Saxony, Wife of Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg  1529

As court painter to the electors of Saxony, Lucas Cranach the Elder developed a simplified portrait style that catered to his patrons’ concern with dynastic continuity and princely status. His portraits of princes present a legible, if not always flattering, rendering of his sitter’s features and richly patterned costumes. This Saxon princess married into the Brandenburg b...