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Primary sourcePainting18-19 February 1546

Sketch of Martin Luther on His Deathbed

Lukas Furtenagel · 18-19 February 1546

A drawing made by artist Lukas Furtenagel within a day or two of Luther's death in February 1546.

This sketch is a direct eyewitness record of Luther's face made immediately after his death.

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Brown ink-and-wash drawing of a man's face, eyes closed and mouth set, with thinning hair swept back. The paper is speckled tan with a faint inscription at the bottom edge and a monogram at the top left.
Lukas Furtenagel, sketch of the dead Martin Luther, 18-19 February 1546.

About this source

What it is

This ink-and-wash sketch of Martin Luther's face was drawn by the artist Lukas Furtenagel around 18 or 19 February 1546, close to the time of Luther's death.

Why it matters

Death portraits like this were a common way of recording the appearance of important people before burial. Because it was drawn so soon after Luther died, it is considered a direct eyewitness record of his face at the end of his life, made by an artist who was present.

Look closer

  • Why might someone want a precise drawing of a person's face right after death?
  • What can you tell about the artist's skill and intentions from how carefully the face is rendered?
  • What does this sketch NOT tell you about who Luther was or what he believed?

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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