Lucas Cranach the Elder: Life and Legacy Early Life and Training Born around 1472 in Kronach, Germany, Lucas Cranach the Elder was a pivotal figure of the German Renaissance. His father, Hans Maler (meaning “the painter”), provided his initial artistic training. The specifics of his early education remain somewhat unclear, but it’s believed he studied with South German masters and potentially spent time in Vienna. Career at the Saxon Court In 1504, Cranach entered the service of Duke Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (Frederick the Wise), marking a turning point in his career. H…