Ok, last post. Honest. But this is about a word, 'weibermacht'.

Depictions of cunning, sensuous nude women were produced frequently in #Cranach’s workshop, and 'weibermacht' (the power of women over men) was particularly popular in C15th/16th Germany.

And it is the theme of 'weibermacht that #Venus expresses here. Flirtatious, seductive, appealing.

The composition proved popular, and C produced multiple copies. 19 still exist.

More here:

https://lucascranach.org

#NationalGallery #Art

A final remark about #Cranach before moving on. His signature. It's a most elaborate thing: a winged serpent with ruby ring.

Until 1508 Cranach, like his contemporary #Dürer, signed his works with his initials. In that year the Elector of Saxony, "Frederick the Wise", gave him the winged snake as an emblem, or Kleinod*. From then on, this honour became his signature.

Only 4 of the #NationalGallery 10 C's are signed: NG291, NG1925, NG2925 and NG6344.

* A visible honour or order of merit

#Cranach's, 'Cupid Complaining to Venus' continues to surprise.

We now view the German #Renaissance as a separate, critical strand of the cultural movements sweeping C16th Europe. But 150 years ago, this #Venus and #Cupid were considered primitive and lewd and beyond the pale.

It's all about taste and context: historical, art, fashion.

What about provenance? Owned by Hitler and bought with the royalties he made from Mein Kampf, does this change perceptions of the #Artwork?

#NationalGallery

Continuing a look at #Cranach's, '#Cupid Complaining to #Venus'.

The beauty here *is* strange. I can see why #Victorian sensibility were so disturbed - #Raphael it is not.

'Stark' is the word often used, interpreted as:

+ Flatness of polychromatic tone
+ Lack of depth in modelling of the human form
+ Comic elongation of Venus's body
+ Sharpness of outline

(My list)

But then there's her jaunty bonnet and that strangeness disappears. It's weird; different rules apply.

#NationalGallery

Continuing a look at #Cranach's, '#Cupid Complaining to #Venus'.

The beauty here *is* strange. I can see why #Victorian sensibility were so disturbed - #Raphael it is not.

'Stark' is the word often used, interpreted as:

+ Flatness of polychromatic tone
+ Lack of depth in modelling of the human form
+ Comic elongation of Venus's body
+ Sharpness of outline

(My list)

But then there's her jaunty bonnet and that strangeness disappears. It's weird, different rules apply.

#NationalGallery

Continuing a look at #Cranach's, '#Cupid Complaining to #Venus'.

The beauty here *is* strange. I can see why #Victorian sensibility were so disturbed - #Raphael it is not.

'Stark' is the word often used, interpreted as:

+ Flatness of polychromatic tone
+ Lack of depth in modelling of the human form
+ Comic elongation of Venus's body
+ Sharpness of outline

(My list)

But then there's her jaunty bonnet and that strangeness disappears. It's weird. different rules apply.

#NationalGallery

The German master #LucasCranach was a busy bee. He and his workshop created over 5000 works of #Art. Clearly, there was a market.

Victorian cognoscenti thought otherwise. German #Renaissance paintings were barely collectable being considered primitive and ugly, 'repulsive', even. A most visceral reaction.

Post WWII tastes were more enlightened, and supply meant good #Cranach's could still be reasonably acquired. Sadly, too late for the #NationalGallery whose only #Dürer cost them £10m in 1996.

The German master #LucasCranach was a busy bee. He and his workshop created over 5000 works of #Art. Clearly, there was a market.

Victorian cognoscenti thought otherwise. German #Renaissance paintings were barely collectable being considered primitive and ugly, 'repulsive', even. A most visceral reaction.

Post WWII tastes were more enlightened, and supply meant good #Cranach's could still be reasonably acquired. Sadly, too late for the #NationalGallery whose only #Dürer cost them £10m in 1996.