The Protestant Reformation a response to the corruption and abuse of the Catholic Church had a great impact on art in the 1600s. This changed the political and religious makeup of Europe. Before the Reformation, the arts was closely supervised and sponsored by the Catholic Church or wealthy Monarchs. I will discuss the Reformation and its influence on artwork from Jacopo Tintoretto and Albrecht Durer, two artists from that time.
The Protestant Reformation started in Germany in the 16th Century was initiated by Augustinian monk Martin Luther but was continued by John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, and other Protestant reformers. Luther had a list of 95 theses or arguments against the abuse of the Catholic …show more content…
It was called counter meaning against the Reformation. They held the Council of Trent in 1545, where the Catholic Church’s high officials met in Trent, Italy. After the Council of Trent the Catholic Church denounced Lutherism and reaffirmed Catholic Doctrine. They excommunicated Luther and other reformers from the church in response to the movement. The Catholic Doctrine was established to show the difference between Catholics and Protestants. They denied the Protestants belief and declared only the Latin Bible was the basis of Christian belief to be interpreted by the clergy. They defined art as a clear, correct, and realistic interpretation to draw faithful followers into devotion by depicting religious matter. Their main goal was to promote religious faith. We see the interpretation is very different as we focus on two artworks of that time depicting the Last Supper, one by Italian Catholic artist Jacopo Tintoretto and the other by German Protestant artist Albrecht …show more content…
He was interested in the religious changes that happen during the Protestant Reformation, in which Martin Luther’s ideas have a big impact. Each character is detailed showing movement and facial expressions. He uses optical illusion and arrangement of the grouping in a manner as to allow an unobstructed view of Jesus Christ. Durer shows wine and bread usually taken in communion by priest. It suggests it was taken by the people which demonstrate an example of Protestant ideals. This scene shows eleven disciples which differs than Tintoretto’s version. Durer demonstrates the Protestants view on changing the central focus where Judas betrays Jesus before his crucifixion to when Christ is giving his New Commandments after his resurrection. His interpretation of the Last Supper, not as a ritual but as a promise of salvation is important in Luther’s