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

Beheading of John the Baptist

c. 1509
Woodcut
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

In the woodcuts, produced by Cranach in notable quantity by 1509, it is possible to detect traces of influences absorbed on his journey to the Netherlands, particularly in the treatment of interiors. It is thought that the large single sheet, the Beheading of John the Baptist was worked while the artist was still in the Netherlands. Notable features here are the motifs of the galleries for the princes.