Portrait of the Emperor Charles V, Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1533

Lucas cranach the elder was one of the most important artists of the german renaissance together with albrecht dürer. He was a noted portraitist, an area in which he was particularly prolific following his appointment as court painter at wittenberg. Cranach executed various portraits of the emperor charles v, the first when the sitter was aged only eight and was archduke at the court of margaret of austria. In the present portrait the emperor is depicted bust-length, his body outlined against the green background. The depiction of the face is not idealised and reproduces charles’ distinctive features with his prominent jaw and bulging lower lip. The only element that refers to his royal status is the emblem of the golden fleece hanging from the chain that he wears. Object Type: painting. Genre: portrait. Date: 1533. Dimensions: height: 51.2 cm (20.1 in); width: 36 cm (14.1 in). Medium: oil on panel. Depicted People: Charles V. Collection: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Portrait of the Emperor Charles V (Lucas Cranach the Elder)