ドイツのクローナハという町に生まれ、町の名前がそのまま呼び名になりました。1505年ごろからヴィッテンベルクでザクセン選帝侯の宮廷画家となり、一生その一家に仕えました。大きな工房で、肖像画や祭壇画、版画を次々に生み出します。友人ルターの肖像をたくさん描いたことでも有名で、息子のルーカス（子）も画家となって工房を受けつぎました。
Cranach was born in the town of Kronach, Germany, and his name comes from that town. From around 1505 he was court painter to the Electors of Saxony in Wittenberg, and he served their family for the rest of his life. His large workshop produced portraits, altarpieces and prints one after another. He is famous for his many portraits of his friend Martin Luther. His son, Lucas the Younger, also became a painter and carried on the workshop.
