The first third of the sixteenth century in Germany produced some of the greatest artists in its history, and the Metropolitan Museum owns key examples by Dürer, Baldung Grien, Cranach, and Hans Holbein the Younger, which are displayed in the C. Michael Paul Gallery.
Having absorbed the realism of early Netherlandish painting and the classical culture of Italian Humanism, German painting was subsequently transformed by the religious reforms of Martin Luther. German art varied from region to region, but among the key patrons were the Dukes of Saxony and the powerful bishops of the Catholic Church. Commissions from the wealthy led to some of the greatest portraits ever produced, especially those by Hans Holbein the Younger, who also worked in England at the court of Henry VIII.
Note: This gallery is temporarily closed to the public due to a construction project. Visitors to the Museum may inquire at the Information Desk in the Great Hall for more information.
