Tallinn Trip – Kadriorg Art Museum (Friedrich the Magnanimous by Lucas Cranach the Elder’s Workshop)

I really will get bored of writing about artworks soon, I’ve got a whole trip about Tallinn to finish, let alone my riveting thoughts about other places I’ve since visited. I’m currently in Faro, it’s confusing my mind just a little to be thinking about Portugal, Tallinn and Norwich all at the same time. But, I will persist with my ‘profound’ insights whilst trying to calm my wanderlust which has been a little out of control recently, although I think it’s probably good for my soul.

Our star player here, looking all regal and whatnot, is Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous, Elector of Saxony. I’d like to be called the Julian the Magnanimous I think, although it’s not a word that my friends have used before about me, so it’s not looking likely at the current rate. Let’s not forget the fashion statement. Johann’s rocking that velvet robe like it’s nobody’s business. It’s so richly detailed, you can practically hear the artist complaining about carpal tunnel. But hey, when you’re an Elector, comfort comes second to looking fabulous. It was painted in around 1550 by the workshop of Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). There must be some political intrigue here as to why this was painted, but I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of trying to understand Saxony politics in the mid-sixteenth century but he clearly wanted to look like a man of status.