ON 7 JUNE 1526, LUCAS CRANACH STOOD beside Martin Luther and a crying baby in Wittenberg City Church. The child, Luther’s first son— known as “Little Hans” — had been born earlier that day and Cranach had been asked to be the godfather. Cranach was a natural choice. Then well into his fifties, he was one of the family’s dearest friends. He had even introduced Luther to his wife.
But Luther’s request also had a deeper symbolism. More than any other artist, Cranach
