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Lucas Cranach

Portrait of Frederick the Wise, Duke of Saxony

c. 1525
Oil on wood panel
28.7 × 24.5 cm (11.3 × 9.6 in)

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● On view now — Collection Gallery, Room 14, South Wall

Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia · verified July 2026

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FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

The sitter is Frederick the Wise, Duke of Saxony, who is best known for having protected Martin Luther from the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church. Beginning around 1505, Lucas Cranach worked as court painter to the duke, who granted the artist a coat of arms in 1508. Showing a dragon, the coat of arms can be seen just above Frederick's right shoulder. This was a clever way for Cranach to indicate his authorship of the painting.

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