Hercules with Omphale (1535)

This page presents "Hercules with Omphale" (1535), created by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Historical background, 1535: The Protestant Reformation changed how religious imagery was commissioned in northern Europe, while Venetian painters made rich colour and brushwork a central concern. The sixteenth century includes the High Renaissance in Italy, the Mannerist generation that followed it, and the Northern Renaissance of artists such as Dürer, Holbein, and Bruegel. Religion in brief: Religious painting is among the largest bodies of art ever made, from altarpieces, icons, and illuminated manuscripts to devotional prints. Buddhist painting, Hindu devotional imagery, and Islamic calligraphy and ornament each have conventions of their own. The catalogue places it in Religion. The format is landscape.

Everything for "Hercules with Omphale" arrives digitally: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI. Once payment is confirmed, an email brings the download link, and from there you decide how to print it, whether at home, at a print shop, or through an online service. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Matching the frame to the image proportions avoids cropping. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour.

German, 1472–1553

If you like the visual language of Lucas Cranach the Elder, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.