February 9 in the Luxembourg Museum opened the first ever Paris show of the outstanding German master Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). Today's authors call it the "Warhol of the Renaissance," because the artist's studio in Wittenberg is a true "factory", where Cranach, together with his sons and helpers tirelessly to stamp marked with a peculiar style of painting.

Lucas Cranach the Elder Portrait of a young lady. Source: bloomberg.com

about early stages of his career, little is known. Real name of the painter - Mahler, Mueller or Sunder, like many other Renaissance masters, he chose to take as an alias name of his native city. In his youth, Cranach traveled a lot, in the early 1500's he lived in Vienna, where he became famous as the author of biblical scenes. In 1505 the Saxon Elector Friedrich the Wise appointed him as court painter.

capital of Saxony Wittenberg, which the artist had left, when he was in his declining years, known mainly as the cradle of the Reformation. It was there that Martin Luther criticized the Christian dogma and practice of selling indulgences, posted on the door of Castle Church his "95 Theses". Cranach and Luther were friends fast: theologian, was godfather to the eldest daughter of the painter, who, in turn, spoke at the wedding of Luther as best man.

Lucas Cranach the Elder Hercules and Antaeus Source: bloomberg.com

Cranach became the official artist the nascent Protestant movement: he painted portraits of their leaders and enjoy portrayed the Pope as the Antichrist. However, this does not prevent him from fulfilling orders for the sworn enemy of Luther, Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg - Cranach was a prudent businessman, never misses an opportunity to earn money. In addition to the studio, he had a printing office, a pharmacy and even a pub (which was located on the first floor of his house). Cranach was listed as a member of the City Council and three times elected to the post of mayor.

The exhibition includes paintings, drawings and etchings, a significant number of which were produced by the order of art lovers, interested not so much perturbations church peace how many naked female nature. Experts have counted Cranach 31 Eve, 32 and 35 Lucretius Venus! In the Luxembourg Museum you can see some of them even compare some of the works of contemporary masters.

Kranahovskie nude, combining medieval restraint and sensibility of the Renaissance, confused with something hard. If an artist decides to put "his girls, do not skimp on the most extravagant outfits: the art historian Kenneth Clark (Kenneth Clark) called it" the heavenly patron of all the fashion designers. " The strangest picture of the exhibition, however, depicts a naked male - Hercules and his vanquished opponent, the giant Antaeus, the last posture resembles a swastika.

Exhibition "Lucas Cranach and his time will last until May 23 .

material was prepared by Julia Maksimova, AI

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru