Lucas Cranach the Elder (Cranach Lucas)

(1472-1553), and Lucas Cranach the Elder
Born in Kronach (Franconia) in 1472. He studied, apparently, his father. On the years of his childhood and youth, almost nothing is known, the earliest extant paintings and woodcuts by Cranach date back to the time between 1501 and 1504 and were probably made in Vienna. In them he addresses the problem of the relationship of the human figure and landscape background. His artistic search these years related primarily to the depiction of nature, unites him with the masters of the Danube School.
In 1505, Cranach accepted the invitation of the Elector of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, a court painter, he settled in Wittenberg, and remained there until the end of life. In 1509 he traveled to the Netherlands. In 1537 Cranach was elected mayor of Wittenberg ruling. The growing success and prosperity of the artist shows a great number of works, . completed his studio, . many of which were written by the eldest son of Hans Cranach, after his death (1537) worked there and the second son of the master - Lucas Cranach the Younger,
. In recent years, life master of his works are becoming more pretentious. In the late works, he wrote the altar and mythological compositions and scenes of hunting. Among the portraits belonging to his hand - the pictures of several friends, t.ch. Martin Luther. Cranach died Oct. 16, 1553.