15h and 16th Centuries
German Renaissance – and Cranach Paints for the Reformation
The Renaissance era held Europe in its grip for nearly two hundred years, but the return to philosophies of the classical era and society’s intensive introspection called the existing worldview into question. Copernicus places the sun at the center of the universe, Columbus discovers America, Gutenberg invents letterpress printing and Martin Luther reforms the church.
The search for knowledge and truth leaves traces on canvases as well; in the studios of German painters like Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach and Hans Baldung, new techniques for life-like portrayals of their motifs emerged. Realistic portraits, true-to-life proportions and a central perspective characterize the works of the German Renaissance.