Artwork

Magnus, Duke, son of Ordulf, died 1106

Magnus, Duke, son of Ordulf, died 1106, by Lucas Cranach the Younger, unspecified
Magnus, Duke, son of Ordulf, died 1106, by Lucas Cranach the Younger, unspecified

Magnus, Duke, son of Ordulf, died 1106 is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Younger. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Executed in 1590, this portrait by Lucas Cranach the Younger represents Magnus, Duke, son of Ordulf, who died in 1106. The work exemplifies Northern Renaissance portraiture and is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It presents the sitter in a richly detailed costume, set against a uniform blue backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is shown in a sumptuous outfit that signals high rank: a green hat trimmed with a yellow feather, a red cape draped over a blue shirt, and a sword held in the right hand. The weapon and the elaborate dress together convey the duke’s noble status and martial authority, typical of commemorative portraiture of the period.

Technique & Style

Cranach the Younger employs the precise brushwork and vivid coloration characteristic of his workshop, continuing the stylistic lineage of his father. The painting features a smooth, almost enamel-like surface, with careful attention to fabric texture and reflective surfaces, while the flat blue background isolates the figure, emphasizing his presence without narrative distraction.

History & Provenance

The portrait has remained in the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum since at least the 19th century, where it is catalogued among the museum’s German Renaissance acquisitions. Its attribution to Lucas Cranach the Younger rests on stylistic analysis and documented workshop records linking the artist to portrait commissions for aristocratic patrons.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Lucas Cranach the Younger

Artist

Lucas Cranach the Younger

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.