Artwork
The fountain of youth
The fountain of youth is a paint painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1546 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1546, this painted work by Lucas Cranach the Elder portrays the legendary Fountain of Youth. The composition combines the mythic water source with a lively dance scene, reflecting the artist’s interest in allegorical subjects. The piece is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it is displayed among other Northern Renaissance works.
Subject & Meaning
The painting visualises the age‑old legend of a spring that restores youth, surrounding the central fountain with figures engaged in a festive dance. The juxtaposition of rejuvenation and celebration suggests a contemplation of vitality, renewal, and the human desire to defy the passage of time, themes common in 16th‑century moralizing art.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the work exhibits Cranach’s characteristic linear clarity and delicate modeling of figures. The palette balances bright, naturalistic tones with subtle chiaroscuro, while the composition arranges the dancing participants in rhythmic groups that guide the viewer’s eye toward the central water source.
History & Provenance
After its completion in the mid‑16th century, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. Its documented presence in the museum’s catalogue confirms its attribution to Cranach the Elder and secures its status as a representative example of his later oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
