Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Lucas Cranach the Elder

Lucas Cranach the Elder, an artist's son was born in Cronach in Franconia in about 1472. He spent 1501 to 1504 in Vienna before coming to Wittenberg as court painter to the Saxon Elector Friedrich the Wise. The latter made him a member of the nobility in 1508, presenting him with a coat of arms with a winged snake. Cranach traveled to the Netherlands in that same year at the request of his Elector.

Some two years later he married Barbara Brengbier, a daughter of the mayor of Gotha. Cranach carried out extensive constructions to his large house in Schloss Street 1 during the ensuing years. Lucas Cranach's workshop developed into an extremely manifold artistic manufacturing business. His two sons Hans and Lucas (the younger) were born in 1513? and 1515. Both followed in their father's footsteps and became artists. Cranach's daughters Ursula and Barbara was born in 1517 and 1519. In 1520 Cranach acquired the apothecary's privilege.

Martin Luther was the Godfather of his daughter Anna, born in that same year. From 1523 onwards Cranach had a printing press for a while and later a book shop as well. Lucas and Barbara Cranach were the witnesses to Martin Luther's and Katharina von Bora's marriage, and Cranach was the Godfather of their first son Johannes. Cranach was one of the most highly respected and richest citizens of Wittenberg. As such he was a member of the Wittenberg's town council for numerous years and was also mayor a number of times. The death of his talented son Hans in Bologna in 1537 hit Cranach hard. Three years later his wife Barbara also died. In 1547 Cranach asked Emperor Charles V to have mercy with the imprisoned Elector John Friedrich. Cranach followed the pardoned Elector to Weimar in 1552, where he died in 1553 at the age of 81.