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Primary sourcePainting1528

Portrait of Martin Luther

Lucas Cranach the Elder · 1528

A 1528 painted portrait of Martin Luther by his friend Lucas Cranach the Elder, now the standard image of the mature reformer.

This portrait is the standard visual likeness of Luther, painted from life by his friend Cranach.

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Painting of a man with curly dark hair under a black flat cap and a black high-collared garment, set against a teal-blue background. He has a serious expression, with his head turned slightly to the side.
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Portrait of Martin Luther, 1528. Veste Coburg.

About this source

What it is

This painting from 1528 shows a man with curly dark hair under a black cap and a black high-collared garment against a teal background. It is held at Veste Coburg and is attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Why it matters

Cranach was Luther's friend and a key visual propagandist for the Reformation, producing portraits that helped spread Luther's image and ideas across German lands. This portrait has become the standard likeness of the mature reformer used in books and classrooms ever since.

Look closer

  • What does the sitter's plain dark clothing and serious expression suggest about how Luther wanted to be seen?
  • Why might a friend and supporter, rather than a neutral observer, have painted this portrait?
  • What might this image leave out about Luther's personality or private life?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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