This is a photo I took of the Cranach altarpiece at Wittenberg last November (2012). This piece is in the Wittenberg City Church. It’s dated 1547, one year after Luther’s death. It’s important to know these were statements, not actual events. Melanchthon, a lay person and. Colleague of Luther’s is baptizing in the left panel. In the center panel, Jesus presides at the Last Supper with John’s head at his breast, and Judas to his right. But notice that Luther is one of the 12 disciples. He is shown here offering the cup to Cranach.
August 26, 2013 at 10:17 am
Thanks, don’t know if it is just me, but all your posts since saturday the pictures are not showing up, just the tag “image 1” etc. Peace, Jim Abbott Pastorabbott@earthlink.net cell (979) 251-4992
November 15, 2014 at 11:00 am
Actually it’s just the reverse: It’s Cranach communing Luther, a very bold statement concerning the priesthood of all believers. So much for the ELCA’s hysterical episcopacy.
Kris Baudler
New York
November 15, 2014 at 9:51 pm
The altarpiece has been debated over the years. Your interpretation is interesting, if biased.
November 16, 2014 at 12:50 pm
True enough. But as an evangelical confessional statement, collaborated on with the Wittenberg theological faculty and in collusion with Luther, Cranach’ triptych depicts three illicit and highly illegal acts under canon law . . . ironically acts that are now also largely “verboten” under CCM.
O Brother Martin, Where Art Thou?