2. The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648)
The Protestants, in rejecting
Catholic doctrine and the
authority of the Catholic
church, also rejected the
entire tradition of Catholic art.
Martin Luther nails his 95
Theses to the door of
Castle Church in
Wittenberg, Saxony.
3. Protestant reformers rejected the
use of visual art in church.
This painting shows the interior
of the Choir of St. Bavo in
Haarlem (Pieter Janszoon, 1660,
oil on wood).
This Catholic Church
was stripped of ornamentation
and converted to Protestant use.
(James Jackson, The Reformation
and Counter-Reformation. Web.)
4. Protestant reformers often tried to
destroy as much Catholic art as they
could. This altar piece in St. Martin's
Cathedral, Utrecht, was attacked in
the Beeldenstorm (“statue storm”) in
1566. This framed altarpiece became
visible again after restoration in 1919
removed the false wall placed in
front of it (“The Reformation and
Art,” Wikipedia).
5. Religious art became less common in Protestant northern
Europe. Hans Holbein the Younger's Noli me tangere a
relatively rare Protestant oil painting of Christ. It is small, and
generally naturalistic in style, avoiding iconic elements like
the halo, which is barely discernible (“The Reformation and
Art,” Wikipedia).
6. Many Protestant artists turned to secular subject matter, such as genre painting,
landscape painting, portraits, and historical scenes. The work of Peter Bruegel of
Flanders makes no reference to religion or classical models. (Peasant Wedding Feast,
1566-69)
9. Hans Holbein, Double Portrait of Jean de Dinteville and
Georges de Selve ("The Ambassadors"), 1533. Oil and
tempera on oak
10. Albrecht Durer, a German,
was very interested in the
Italian Renaissance. In Adam
and Eve (1504), you can see
his interest in the classical,
idealized human form
combined with a traditional
religious theme.
11. Going Further
• Reformation and the Counter-Reformation
(Smarthistory, Khan Academy)
• The Reformation and Art (Wikipedia)
• The Reformation (Metropolitan Museum of
Art)
