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Secondary sourcePainting1555

Frederick the Wise and Martin Luther Kneeling before Christ on the Cross

1555

A 1555 woodcut title page showing Luther and Elector Frederick the Wise kneeling before the crucified Christ.

A posthumous woodcut pairing Luther with his protector Frederick the Wise, both kneeling before Christ.

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Title page of a German Bible printed in Wittenberg in 1555, with red and black gothic lettering reading 'Die Propheten alle Deutsch, Doct. Mart. Luther, Wittenberg, Gedruckt durch Hans Lufft, 1555'. Below is a woodcut of Christ on the cross with two kneeling, praying men in robes on either side.
Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, and Martin Luther kneeling before Christ on the cross, woodcut, 1555. Wellcome Collection, London.

About this source

What it is

This is a woodcut title page from a German Bible printed in Wittenberg in 1555 by Hans Lufft, bearing Martin Luther's name as translator. The illustration shows Christ on the cross with two kneeling, praying figures beside him: Frederick III, Elector of Saxony (Frederick the Wise), and Martin Luther. It is held by the Wellcome Collection in London.

Why it matters

The print was made nine years after Luther's death, so it is a later image meant to honor and promote his legacy and his connection to Frederick the Wise, the ruler who had protected him. It shows how Luther's image was linked with devotion to Christ and with his powerful protector, reinforcing the religious and political alliance that allowed the Reformation to survive.

Look closer

  • Why might the printer choose to show Luther kneeling beside a prince rather than alone?
  • What does pairing Luther with Frederick the Wise suggest about who supported the Reformation?
  • Since this was made after Luther's death, what message might it be trying to send to readers?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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