Artwork
Caritas (Charity)
Caritas (Charity) is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Younger. It dates from 1537 and is held in the collection of the Hamburger Kunsthalle.
About this work
Overview
Caritas (Charity) is a 1537 oil painting by Lucas Cranach the Younger, a German artist and son of Lucas Cranach the Elder.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a nude woman breastfeeding a baby, surrounded by three other nude children playing and gathering apples from a nearby tree, symbolizing charity and abundance in a serene natural setting.
Technique & Style
The work features warm colors and soft lighting, creating a tranquil atmosphere characteristic of Cranach's style, which often explored allegorical and idyllic themes.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Hamburger Kunsthalle collection, exemplifying 16th-century German art and the Cranach family's artistic legacy.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Younger (German: Lucas Cranach der Jüngere, IPA: ; 4 October 1515 – 25 January 1586) was a German Renaissance painter and portraitist, the son of Lucas Cranach the Elder and brother of Hans Cranach.
