Germany / 1540
Hunting near Hartenfels Castle
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Hunting near Hartenfels Castle as painting (Germany · 1540).
Humans, dogs, and deer make up most of the creatures in this busy scene—but not all of them! Look closely at the background to spot a bear and three boars.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil, originally on wood, transferred to masonite and credits Lucas Cranach (German, 1472–1553).
The museum's collection notes: The Protestant rulers of Saxony commissioned this animated hunt scene, set near their residence seen in the background, Hartenfels Castle (in eastern Germany). John Frederick the Magnanimous, in the bottom left corner, wears dark green hunting attire; he spans his crossbow and waits for his courtiers and dogs to chase a stag across the river. His wife, the Electress Sibylle, stands at right, poised to take the first ceremonial shot. The prince electors of Saxony were passionate practitioners of hunting with dogs—elaborate, highly rehearsed occasions, coordinated by the use of signals from hunting horns. Cranach dated this work and his signatu
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtHunting near Hartenfels CastleOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.