Renaissance and Reformation

Coinciding with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Renaissance and Reformation: German Art in the Age of Dürer and Cranach brings to Los Angeles some of the greatest achievements of German Renaissance art. The period under consideration (1460–1580) was marked by profound changes in thought, philosophy, science, and religion, which in turn transformed the work of many artists of the day. Artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Lucas Cranach, Hans Holbein, Mathias Grünwald, Tilman Riemenschneider, Peter Vischer, and a host of others reflected this new vision of the world in their works. The period was marked by conflicts, civil wars, and complex relationships with neighboring countries, but also witnessed a flourishing of many states and cities, reflected in the skills of their craftsmen. The exhibition comprises over 100 pieces, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, arms and armors, as well as decorative arts.

This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden and the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen München with the support of the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. The exhibition is supported in part by The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.