Portrait of Prince Philip I

Philip I (1515–1560), depicted in the painting, assumed power in 1532 over the Pomeranian duchies west of the Oder River, establishing his seat in Wolgast (Germany). In 1536, he married Maria (1516–1583), the daughter of the Saxon Elector John the Steadfast (1468–1532). Their wedding was officiated by the reformer Martin Luther in Torgau, Saxony. Philip I became renowned as a duke who, alongside his co-ruler Barnim IX (1501–1573), introduced Lutheranism as the state religion in Pomerania. Educated in Heidelberg, he contributed to academic life by supporting the University of Greifswald and co-founding the pedagogical school in Szczecin. He was a dynamic ruler who reformed the monetary system, streamlined administration, and ensured internal stability in his domain. Philip I died in Wolgast in 1560. The portrait shows the duke at the age of 26, dressed in a fur-collared robe, a wide outer garment, beneath which a high-collared white shirt with a ruffled edge is visible. His left hand rests on the hilt of a rapier or sword with a prominent pommel. Gold rings on his fingers and chains on his chest attest to his social status. The detailed rendering of his face captures his psychological expression. In the upper left corner of the painting, the Cranach family emblem – a crowned, winged serpent holding a ruby ring in its mouth – and the date 1541 can be seen. The painting is attributed to Lucas Cranach the Younger (1515–1586), who began working in his father's Wittenberg workshop in 1527. After the death of his elder brother Hans in 1537, Lucas assisted in managing the workshop and, in 1550, took over its direction following his father’s move to Weimar. Portraiture was a significant part of his artistic output, immortalising both princes and wealthy townspeople who could afford to commission their likenesses. Justyna Bądkowska