Law and Gospel in Paint - Part 6

1541 Luther Bible

This is my last post on the Law and Gospel series. Lucas Cranach's paintings of Law and Gospel were put into place as continual reminders of where to look for life and salvation: Jesus Christ crucified and risen. They flooded northern Europe making their way also into French, Dutch, and English works and continued to be produced into the 17th century. Thus far, I have stuck mostly to the two main versions of the painting theme: the 1529 Prague and 1529 Gotha Paintings. However, Cranach and his workshop continued to produce many more examples of Law and Gospel. In paintings, Cranach mostly followed the Gotha type. The Prague type continued to be used not only by Cranach and his workshop but by many other artists as well.  It can be found in title pages to Bibles (e.g. Low German Lübeck Bible) and theological works (e.g. Luther's sermons and lectures, Philip Melanchthon's Loci Communes, etc.), and other items (e.g. fountains, chests, stove tiles, etc.). What becomes evident from this is the lasting influence and variety of contexts in which this theme was used.

Variations

Cranach and his workshop continued to make small adjustments to the composition in a variety of paintings that came after the first renditions. However, no two are alike in every detail. This reveals the fact that Cranach continued to adjust the design seeking greater clarity. The reasons for these nuances can be seen as both theological and compositional, though the central force is evident in all of the renditions. I liken it to how Luther translated the Bible into everyday language of the people, while he also continued to refine it for the sake of clarity the rest of his life. Cranach's painting of the distinction and biblical texts in the paintings likewise serves as a sort of translation into visual language. It is by no means an easy project, as images communicate in different ways than words. For a few examples see: Nuremberg Panel, Königsberg/Kaliningrad Panel, and Weimar Panel (to read descriptions in English, click on "DE/EN" in the upper lefthand corner of the site).

Bibles and Theological Works

When the theme appears on book title pages, it serves as a marker of Lutheran theology. But there are also theological reasons. The Law and Gospel theme visually pieces together the scenes of Scripture and seeks to show the relationship between these texts. John Dillenberger saw it as a visual summing up of the Christian faith. It is a snapshot of the faith that clings to Jesus in the midst of all things. When this appears on Bibles, it seeks to frame the way that the Scriptures are read with an evangelical focus. It is to say that by knowing this distinction (which flows from the Scriptures themselves) the whole of Scripture is opened up to us.

Altarpieces

The Law and Gospel Theme shows up on the Schneeberg Altarpiece (1539) and Cranach the Younger's Weimar Altarpiece (1555)—the Weimar altarpiece rearranges the left and right division into a background and foreground division. Here Law and Gospel are suitable for the whole congregation in the worship setting. They serve to reinforce the preaching and the sacraments given to the people. In the service, God's Word (Both Law and Gospel), is proclaimed to the people. God works here to bring about repentance and faith. So the congregants, as both justified and sinners (this side of Christ's return), receive God's work to reveal sin and proclaim the Savior. These images help in bringing the wandering minds back to the promises of God.

Epitaphs

The theme also appears on epitaphs for certain noble families. Here the Law and Gospel distinction reminds mourners of Christ in the midst of life and death. There is only one assurance, and it is found in Christ and His work of redemption. For an example see here.

Household Items

The theme also appeared on a green ceramic wall fountain found near Luther's house, which was used for washing hands and mixing ink. Connections have been made here by scholars as well. While washing hands, the theme reminds the viewer where the true and eternal cleansing comes from. While mixing ink, it served as a reminder of the importance of the distinction for writing theology for the people. The theme also appeared on the tiles of stoves used for heating homes (the wall fountain and stove tile can be found in the Exhibition Catalogue, Martin Luther: Treasures of the Reformation). Then there are the Bremen chests as well.

Conclusion

Overall, what is interesting here, is that the Law and Gospel theme was a crucial part of the Wittenberg effort to create an evangelical "material culture" (very simply put, the objects and surroundings that relate to a culture). They sought to provide means for shaping and forming hearts and minds according to God's promises in Christ in the whole scope of life. It was not a complete rejection of everything that had come before (though certain things did require removal), but an antidote injected into the system. It was an effort to reshape the medieval system of images from the saints and other accretions to Christ alone. Here, Christ's work takes the central place so that everything that came before is reinterpreted according to the Scriptures and the Gospel. So we might ask: What are the ways that we might look at surrounding our spaces with reminders of God's promises? Does it involve reviving this theme in some way? Should it be rendered in a way more commensurate to our accustomed "visual culture" or should it be decidedly different? Do we take on ways of seeing with which we are acquainted but subvert them in some way? How? How can the arts show the God-givenness of our hearts, minds, and all the senses and at the same time show that God's Word reshapes them to something that they could only be with God's Word and the faith that it brings? These are the kinds of questions that have been occupying my thoughts as of late. I invite the conversation.

This post is a part of a series:

LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 1 (Gotha Panel)
LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 2 (Gotha Panel)
LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 3 (Prague Panel)
LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 4 (Prague Panel)
LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 5 (The Dying Man)
LAW AND GOSPEL IN PAINT - PART 6 (Continuation of the Theme)

Presentation on Cranach's Law and Gospel Painting (Theological Symposium, Concordia Seminary St. Louis, 2022)