16th c Northern Europe and Spain Reformation

The Reformation in 16th-century Northern Europe stemmed from widespread dissatisfaction with church leaders and a desire for a direct connection to God, bypassing the hierarchical structure and sacraments of the Catholic Church. Concerns included the sale of indulgences, the perceived extravagance of the clergy, and nepotism within the church, all contradicting the belief that salvation comes through faith and God's grace alone. People were already moving religious practice into their homes, laying groundwork for the movement.

Martin Luther, an Augustinian friar, sparked the Reformation with his 'Reformation Discovery' – the belief that salvation comes through faith. Incensed by the sale of indulgences, he posted his 95 Theses, debating points against church practices, on the church door in Wittenberg in 1517. The invention of the Gutenberg Press allowed his ideas to spread rapidly. Excommunicated in 1520, Luther established his own church, marking a significant split in Christendom.

Lucas Cranach the Elder, known as the 'painter of the Reformation,' created 'Allegory of Law and Grace' around 1530. This woodcut, a significant medium for Protestants, depicts the contrasting Catholic and Protestant views of salvation. Woodcuts were favored because their less refined aesthetic mitigated the Protestant fear of idolatry, ensuring worship was directed at God and not the image itself. The simplicity and efficiency of printmaking also made it an ideal way to disseminate Reformation ideas cheaply and widely.

The left side of Cranach's woodcut represents the Catholic view, showing Jesus, judgment, and a skeleton leading a man to hell, while Moses points to the Ten Commandments, implying that adherence to rules and avoidance of original sin were pathways to salvation. The right side illustrates the Protestant perspective, with Christ on the cross and the Holy Spirit washing away sins, emphasizing that salvation comes directly from God's grace and faith, not through adherence to the church's dictates or practices.