Die Auferstehung

1505–1547

Post: court painter

1547

Capture of John Frederick at Mühlberg

Cranach's employer, Duke John Frederick the Magnanimous, was defeated by imperial forces at the Battle of Mühlberg and taken prisoner; Wittenberg was besieged.

1547

Meeting with Charles V at the Camp near Piestritz

During the siege of Wittenberg, Emperor Charles V, who remembered Cranach from his childhood, summoned him to his camp near Piestritz; the artist begged on his knees for gentle treatment of the captive Elector.

1550

Follows the Captive Elector to Augsburg and Innsbruck

At John Frederick's request he followed him into captivity to Augsburg and then to Innsbruck, where he worked for the duke and his guests; he handed the Wittenberg workshop over to his son Lucas.

c. 1550

Meets Titian

In Augsburg, where Titian had come at the command of Charles V, Cranach made the acquaintance of the Italian master.