Lucas Cranach the Younger Facts for Kids

Lucas Cranach the Younger (born October 4, 1515 – died January 25, 1586) was an important German painter during the Renaissance period. He was famous for painting portraits. His father, Lucas Cranach the Elder, was also a well-known painter, and his brother was Hans Cranach.

Life as a Painter and Leader
Famous Works
- Paintings of the Polish Royal Family
Images for kids
See also

Life as a Painter and Leader

Lucas Cranach the Younger was born in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 4, 1515. He was the second son of Lucas Cranach the Elder and Barbara Brengebier. He started learning to paint in his father's workshop. He trained there with his older brother, Hans.

When Hans sadly died in 1537, Lucas the Younger took on more important jobs in the workshop. This meant he helped his father a lot with their painting business.

The Reformation and Cranach's Art

The Protestant Reformation began in Wittenberg in 1517. This was a big religious movement that changed Europe. Cranach the Elder was good friends with Martin Luther, a leader of the Reformation. Because of this friendship, the Cranach family workshop became famous for creating art that supported the Protestant ideas. This art helped spread their messages.

In 1550, Cranach the Elder left Wittenberg. He went to join his supporter, John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, who was in exile. After his father left, Lucas the Younger took full control of the busy family workshop. He did a great job keeping up the high quality of their paintings. This included portraits of important Reformation figures, like Martin Luther himself.

Even though Lucas the Younger was never officially a "court painter" (an artist hired by a royal family), he worked for many important people. These included princes and nobles. When he died in 1586, a theologian named Georg Mylius said that Cranach the Younger's paintings could be seen everywhere. They were in "churches and schools, in castles and houses."

Cranach as a Businessman and Politician

The Cranach family was very respected in Wittenberg. Besides running a successful painting workshop, Lucas Cranach the Younger was also a smart businessman and a politician. He held several important political jobs in Wittenberg starting in 1549. He served on the city council, which helped make decisions for the city.

Later, he became a Chamberlain in 1555. This was a high-ranking official who managed the finances and household of a ruler. From 1565, he served as Burgomaster, which is like being the mayor of the city.

Family Life

On February 20, 1541, Lucas Cranach the Younger married Barbara Brück. Her father, Gregor Brück, was Martin Luther's legal advisor and a neighbor of the Cranach family. Lucas and Barbara had three sons and one daughter. His sister, Barbara Cranach, also married into the Brück family.

Sadly, Barbara Cranach died from the plague on February 10, 1550. A year later, on May 24, 1551, Lucas married Magdalena Schurff. They had five children together. One of their sons, Augustin Cranach, also became a painter. His daughter Elisabeth married Polykarp Leyser the Elder.

Lucas Cranach the Younger passed away in Wittenberg on January 25, 1586, when he was 70 years old. He is buried next to one of his beautiful altarpieces in the church of St Mary, also known as Stadtkirche Wittenberg.