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Distributed for Reaktion Books

Lucas Cranach

From German Myth to Reformation

Distributed for Reaktion Books

Lucas Cranach

From German Myth to Reformation

A revealing new account of the life and work of this early modern German printmaker.
 
This captivating biography brings Lucas Cranach the Elder into the spotlight for the twenty-first century. The illuminating narrative unveils an artist whose vision transcended personal brilliance as he sought to elevate a nascent nation and foster a sense of community with his work. Perhaps Cranach’s most remarkable achievement lay in forging a robust Lutheran community, endowed with a resounding message of salvation. Using prints (the prevailing medium of mass communication) and multiple versions of paintings, he developed an intricate symbolism that resonated with the populace in early modern Germany. Jennifer Nelson also explores his extensive repertoire of female nudes and shows how these seductive artworks not only tantalized his patrons but constructed for them a deep history of Germany’s notional connections with ancient Greece and Rome.

224 pages | 50 color plates, 10 halftones | 5.43 x 8.5

Renaissance Lives

Art: European Art


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Reviews

"Cranach produced portraits of his friend Martin Luther throughout his life. Nelson’s book explores how Cranach’s paintings and prints helped foster a strong Lutheran community in 16th-century Saxony."

Apollo

"Nelson’s new book overflows with original, fascinating insights. It provides an excellent analysis of Cranach’s career trajectory and the major themes in his artworks, deftly interconnected with the intellectual and religious developments of his time: an ideal exemplar of how to communicate serious research through witty, engaging writing."

Jeanne Nuechterlein, author of 'Hans Holbein: The Artist in a Changing World'

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Godfather of the Reformation
1 The Cranach Brand Emerges
2 The Mythographer of Women: A German Renaissance
3 The Look of Luther’s Reformation
Coda: The Women Look Back

CHRONOLOGY
REFERENCES
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PHOTO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INDEX

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