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Portrait of Magdalena of Saxony, first Wife of Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg
Historical Context
Portrait of Magdalena of Saxony, first Wife of Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg, painted in 1529 and held at the Art Institute of Chicago, is closely related to the other version of this portrait in the same collection. Magdalena (1507–1534) was a daughter of Duke George of Saxony and married into the Brandenburg dynasty as part of the political alliances connecting German princely houses. Multiple versions of important dynastic portraits were standard practice in Cranach’s workshop, as copies were needed for different family residences and diplomatic exchanges. The Chicago painting demonstrates the international dispersal of these portrait copies through centuries of collecting.
Technical Analysis
Executed in Tempera on panel, the work showcases Lucas Cranach the Elder's vivid coloring, with particular attention to the interplay of light across the sitter's features. The handling of drapery and accessories demonstrates the technical refinement expected of formal portraiture.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice this is specifically the Art Institute of Chicago version — Cranach painted at least two versions of this portrait of Magdalena of Saxony, and the AIC holds one.
- ◆Look at the tempera technique noted in the historical context: one of the rarer uses of the older medium in Cranach's predominantly oil-based production.
- ◆Find the young princess's features: Magdalena (1507–1534) was only 22 when she died, and Cranach captured her in the brief window between maturity and her early death.
- ◆Observe the vivid coloring the tempera technique produces: slightly different in quality from oil, more opaque and jewel-like.
