A revealing new account of the life and work of this early modern German printmaker. This captivating biography brings Lucas Cranach the Elder into the spotlight for the twenty-first century. The illuminating narrative unveils an artist whose vision transcended personal brilliance, seeking rather to elevate his nascent nation. Perhaps Cranach's most remarkable achievement lay in forging a robust Lutheran community around his work. Using prints, the prevailing medium of mass communication, he developed an intricate symbolism that resonated with the populace in early modern Germany. On the other hand, Cranach also produced many paintings of female nudes, which this book returns to their central place in the artist's life as symbols of Germany's rich cultural connections with ancient Greece and Rome.