The double portrait of Johann the Tough and his son Johann Friedrich by Lucas Cranach

Lucas Cranach wrote many portraits of his contemporaries. Especially popular during this period were double portraits. A double portrait in art is called a diptych. As a rule, the members of the family – a married couple, brothers, sisters, etc. – were represented here.

In addition to ceremonial portraits of kurfyustov or princes, the names of the depicted are not shown anywhere. According to their attire, precious ornaments, it can be judged that these people belonged to the upper class, from whom the artist received basic orders.

This double portrait depicts the Elector of Saxony Johann the Tough and his son Johann Friedrich, who later received the nickname Magnanimous. He became Elector of Saxony in 1532 after the death of his father. When Johann-Friedrich was still a child, Lucas Cranach was in the service at the courtesan court and was the tutor of the prince. In this portrait, the heir is only six years old, a boy with magnificent hair and a pretty face looks like a girl.

The image of the father and son on a double portrait is unusual for painting of that period. As a rule, they created portraits of representatives of one generation, for example, spouses or brothers. But the wife of the judge, mother of Johann Friedrich of Sofia Mecklenburg, died during childbirth. On the portrait of the prince-orphan is absolutely charming child with lively dreamy eyes.