CRANACH, Lucas the Elder
(b. 1472, Kronach, d. 1553, Weimar)

The Ill-Matched Lovers

1531
Tempera on wood
Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna

The subject of the Ill-Matched Couple was a long-running favourite in the Cranach workshop; more than 40 versions of it are known.

An old man in search of amorous adventures has drawn the young lady close to him and his desire blinded him to the fact that the young woman is only interested in the content of his purse, into which she is furtively delving as he caresses her.