Studio of Lucas Cranach the Elder

R. Lambert, by whom bequeathed to his daughter, the present owner, in 1947/8.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The oak supports are sound .The paint surfaces are stable but there is some discoloured restorations to both panels to reduce minor paint loss and to disguise thinnesses particularly to the backgrounds. Some of the fine pale filigree of shrinkage cracking on both has been reduced. The removal of the discoloured varnishes would improve the tonality on both. 19thC Part painted gilt frames-minor chips."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

These two portraits were probably painted shortly after the death of John the Steadfast of Saxony (1468-1532). He is paired with his predecessor and brother, the Elector Frederick III of Saxony (1463-1525), who was Cranach's most important early patron. Cranach entered his service at the court in Wittemberg in the spring of 1505. Thereafter Cranach remained with the house of Saxony for nearly fifty years, serving three successive Electors, the second being John the Steadfast. The demand for repetitions of Cranach's portraits continued well into the 1530s and Cranach enlisted his best students to fulfil this demand.