Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Reformation Day at the museum


Five hundred years ago today was the date we now commemorate as the start of the Protestant Reformation, and the Art Institute of Chicago put out this row of unassuming little prints of Martin Luther to mark the season.  None larger than about seven inches tall, they show the man in different stages of life.  Choose your favorite!






















Lucas Cranach the Elder, Luther as an Augustinian Friar, with Cap, 1521, engraving






















Daniel Hopfer, After Lucas Cranach the Elder, Martin Luther, 1523, etching






















Heinrich Aldegrever, Martin Luther, 1540, engraving






















Johann Michael PĆ¼chler, Martin Luther, engraving






















Master I.B., Portrait of Martin Luther, 1530, engraving






















Johann Gottfried Schadow, Luther's Statue in Wittenberg, 1822, lithograph

3 comments:

  1. These are wonderful. I find it hard to resist Luther’s expression in the engraving by Master I.B. He comes to life in it. Thank you for posting this.

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  2. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence just opened a small exhibition on Martin Luther and the Reform. Come and see!

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  3. Agreed, master I.B. Is the most expressive... I was surprised to learn of the Protestant Revolution in college... growing up in Catholic School, it was called the “Protestant Revolt”

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