Portrait of Martin Luther, half-length, wearing a black coat; and Portrait of Philip Melanchthon, half-length, in a black coat

These pictures correspond with the large group of portraits of the reformers Luther and Melanchthon produced by Cranach and his studio over several decades (see M. Friedländer and J. Rosenberg, The Paintings of Lucas Cranach, London, 1978, p.130, nos.314-315 illustrated). Of these, they are closest to those that belong to a later phase in that Melanchthon is depicted with a short beard and Luther with greying hair whereas the earlier versions all show Melanchthon with a long beard and both wearing a beret. The present larger format was less common than the smaller size (approximately 20 by 14 cm.).