Hunting near Hartenfels Castle1540 · Study 1958.425

Context from the museum

The Protestant rulers of Saxony commissioned this animated hunt scene, set near their residence seen in the background, Hartenfels Castle (in eastern Germany). John Frederick the Magnanimous, in the bottom left corner, wears dark green hunting attire; he spans his crossbow and waits for his courtiers and dogs to chase a stag across the river. His wife, the Electress Sibylle, stands at right, poised to take the first ceremonial shot. The prince electors of Saxony were passionate practitioners of hunting with dogs—elaborate, highly rehearsed occasions, coordinated by the use of signals from hunting horns. Cranach dated this work and his signature is the winged snake at lower right. 1577 in the right corner is an inventory number.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Humans, dogs, and deer make up most of the creatures in this busy scene—but not all of them! Look closely at the background to spot a bear and three boars.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Hunting near Hartenfels Castle is 170.2 cm wide and 116.8 cm high, equivalent to approximately 67.0 × 46.0 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.46:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.99 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 56.7% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 64.9 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Hunting near Hartenfels Castle in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil, originally on wood, transferred to masonite, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 170.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?