Martin Luther (1483–1546) is one of the most famous figures in the history of the Western world. His words and deeds changed both the religious and political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire at the turn of the 16th century – the dawn of the modern era.

After he nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517 in protest against indulgences, there ensued a conflict between the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant movement that continued well beyond Luther’s lifetime. The dispute was further enflamed by an unprecedented barrage of pictures. Mostly graphic representations, visual polemics, and portraits, these images were produced in varyingly large numbers. Venerated by his supporters and vilified by his foes, Luther himself became one of the most frequently depicted figures of his age.

On the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we are presenting an array of such Luther pictures from a carefully chosen selection. The works span the period up to and including the celebrations in 1617 marking the centenary of the posting of Luther’s theses on the church door.