ticketsMember | Make a donation

Johann I (1468–1532), the Constant, Elector of Saxony

1532–33
Not on view
These posthumous portraits of the Saxon electors Friedrich III, the Wise, and Johann I, the Constant belong to a series of sixty such portrait pairs, ordered by Johann I’s son and successor, Johann Friedrich I, the Magnanimous, when he became elector in 1532. He intended the portraits of his father and uncle to serve as instruments of propaganda. The accompanying laudatory poems emphasize the passage of Saxon electoral preeminence from Friedrich to Johann, thereby implying the legitimacy of Johann Friedrich’s own electorate.
Completed in 1533, the extensive series demonstrates the speed and efficiency of which the Cranach workshop was capable.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Johann I (1468–1532), the Constant, Elector of Saxony
  • Artist: Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop (German, Kronach 1472–1553 Weimar)
  • Date: 1532–33
  • Medium: Oil on beech, with letterpress-printed paper labels
  • Dimensions: 8 x 5 5/8 in. (20.3 x 14.3 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Robert Lehman, 1946
  • Object Number: 46.179.2
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Friedrich III (1463–1525), the Wise, Elector of Saxony, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop German, Oil on beech, with letterpress-printed paper labels
Friedrich III (1463–1525), the Wise, Elector of Saxony
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop
1533
Saint Maurice, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop German, Oil on linden
Saint Maurice
Lucas Cranach the Elder and Workshop
ca. 1520–25
Christ Blessing the Children, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop German, Oil on beech
Christ Blessing the Children
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop
ca. 1545–50
Christ and the Adulteress, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop German, Oil on beech
Christ and the Adulteress
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop
ca. 1545–50
Venus and Cupid, Lucas Cranach the Elder German, Oil on wood
Venus and Cupid
Lucas Cranach the Elder
ca. 1525–27

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.