Weimar Altarpiece

The triptych altarpiece was commissioned by the Elector of Saxony John Frederick I and installed at the high altar of the city parish church of St. Peter und Paul in Weimar in 1555, thus making it one of the major Protestant altarpieces of Reformation, made by Cranachs. The painting of the three-winged altarpiece was started by Lucas Cranach the Elder and upon his father's death, the task was completed by the son Lucas Cranach the Younger in 1555. It is one of the most important Thuringian masterpieces of art produced in the 16th century. The chancel area houses the authentic grave slab of Lucas Cranach the Elder, who now rests at Jacobsfriedhof. During World War II, the altarpiece was stored elsewhere, and therefore survived the air raids of 1945.[2]

Detailed image of the central piece of altar

As in almost all cases of Cranach Post-Reformation altarpieces, there is also a great deal of Christocentric Lutheran symbolism, Christian allegory and Protestant theological concept of Five solas depicted in the Weimar altarpiece, with each image referring to salvation alone in Jesus, emphasizing the sacrifice of Jesus in Solus Christus. The altarpiece is Christ-centered with main focus on the crucified Christ with John the Baptist pointing up at Jesus and index finger from his other hand to the Agnus Dei, while Lucas Cranach the Elder and Martin Luther are standing on the right side. Christ's image is repeated on the left side, he is depicted defeating Satan and conquering death. Cranach is depicted being washed by the blood of Jesus, while there is an open Bible in Luther's hand with his index finger pointing at the Bible to signify the importance of preaching of the Word of God and the doctrine of Sola scriptura. In the background, the fallen nature of mankind is depicted through a scene of the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden, along with the Old Testament narrative of the revelation of the Ten Commandments, the Brazen Serpent, Moses preaching to Israelites and Annunciation to the shepherds. When the triptych is closed, the outer sides of the wings depict the Biblical scenes of Baptism of Jesus and Resurrection.The altarpiece also serves as a grave monument to John Frederick I, his wife Sibylle of Cleves and their descendants who were laid to rest beneath the vault in front of the altar, with their names carved on the predella in the form of an epitaph and their images depicted on the outer wings of the triptych. [3]

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  Weimar altarpiece close-up
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  Agnus Dei detail
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  Resurrected Christ conquering death
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  Chancel of the church with altar and baptismal font
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  Weimar altarpiece with the sight of the ducal burial vault in the front
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  Elector of Saxony John Frederick I and his wife Sibylle of Cleves in prayer

• Wittenberg Altarpiece
• Schneeberg Altarpiece

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Altar in St. Peter und Paul, Weimar by Cranachs.

• / Protected landmark status of the church and description of altar (in German)
• In the footsteps of Cranach - Weimar