Artwork
Lucas Cranach
Lucas Cranach is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Johann Martin Bernigeroth. It dates from 1761 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1761 copperplate engraving, signed Johann Martin Bernigeroth, bears the title “Lucas Cranach” and includes a coat of arms and dates at the top. Although the inscription suggests a likeness of the 16th‑century painter, the image actually depicts an unidentified bearded gentleman, rendered in stark black‑and‑white with a plain background that concentrates attention on his solemn expression.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is presented in a dark, textured robe, his left hand placed over his chest and his right hand supporting his chin, a pose that conveys contemplation or authority. The emphasis on the subject’s thick beard and serious gaze suggests a portrait intended to convey dignity, rather than a literal representation of the artist after whom it is named.
Technique & Style
Bernigeroth employed the fine lines and cross‑hatching typical of mid‑18th‑century engraving to achieve tonal depth. Sharp burins create the intricate texture of the robe and the nuanced shading of the face, while the uncluttered background highlights the figure. The monochrome palette underscores the work’s focus on line work and chiaroscuro rather than colour.
History & Provenance
Created more than two centuries after Lucas Cranach’s death, the print reflects a later period’s interest in commemorating historic artists. The inclusion of a coat of arms and dates suggests a commemorative or didactic purpose, possibly for a collection of portraits of notable German figures. Its attribution to Bernigeroth places it within the German engraving tradition of the Enlightenment era.
Artist & collection
