Friedrich III (1463–1525), the Wise, Elector of Saxony
Medium
Oil on beech, with letterpress-printed paper labels
Dimensions
8 x 5 5/8 in. (20.3 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Robert Lehman, 1946
Accession Number
46.179.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This intimate portrait depicts Friedrich III, Elector of Saxony (146–1525), known "the Wise," a pivotal figure in early German history. Painted posthumously in 1533 by Cranach the Elder and workshop, it captures the elector's dignified presence with characteristic Renaissance precision. Cranach, a leading artist of the German Renaissance and close to the Saxon court, specialized in such regal portraits, often produced in series by his prolific workshop to commemorate patrons. Friedrich's legacy endures as a protector of the Protestant Reformation; he shielded Martin Luther from imperial perse...