Artwork
Philip Melanchton, Half-Length to the Left, Standing Behind a Breastwork
Philip Melanchton, Half-Length to the Left, Standing Behind a Breastwork is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Younger. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This woodcut print depicts a bearded man standing behind a low wall or parapet, attributed to Lucas Cranach the Younger and dated to 1550.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, identified as Philip Melanchton, is shown half-length, holding a paper and gesturing with his other hand. His serious expression and detailed attire convey a sense of contemplation or intellectual pursuits.
Technique & Style
The work is a product of the woodcut technique, where the image is carved into wood and then printed. This method was characteristic of Renaissance art, which emphasized realism and detail.
Artist & collection
