This painting was first displayed a year after Luther’s death, and those who viewed it saw their own pastors and themselves depicted as receiving God’s Word and Sacraments.
The repetition of related themes throughout the painting artfully supports Christ as the central figure to whom all history had been pointing.
Raphael employed “all his skill to demonstrate the power and the worth of his art in the face of Christ, for after Raphael finished this painting, which was the last thing he undertook”
Paintings like Memling’s Scenes from the Passion of Christ are wonderful tools for teaching.
Angelico was influenced by both medieval and Renaissance style, and especially by his Christian faith. Angelico would only paint religious themes, and his deep piety and love for Christ flowed into his work.
Giotto uses the stirring power of artwork rightly: to move emotion toward its proper, God-given end of piety and love.
Whenever the devil pesters you with these thoughts, at once seek out the company of men, drink more, joke and jest…
A noble and respected astronomer travels for months to kneel before a child and pray, “O God, make haste to help me.”
