Luther Monument

Luther Monument on the Wittenberg market square

A Luther Monument (German: Lutherdenkmal) is a monument dedicated to the reformer Martin Luther. The oldest one from 1821 is in Wittenberg. The largest one, the Luther Monument in Worms, was unveiled in 1868 as a composition of several statues, designed by Ernst Rietschel. Several monuments in the United States use a copy of Rietschel's main statue, including the Luther Monument in Washington, D.C., from 1884.

History

Monuments for Luther were mainly erected in the second half of the 19th century. In several German towns, the served as memorials for the Reformation which Luther initiated. They often connect to events in the reformer's life, sometimes a visit in the town. The oldest full-size monument is the Luther Monument in Wittenberg [de], which was at the same time the first public full-size monument for a person who was not noble. It was designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow and unveiled in 1821.

The largest monument was designed by Ernst Rietschel, and unveiled in Worms in 1868. Several statues with Luther in the centre are arranged in the shape of a castle, reminiscent of Luther's hymn "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"). It influenced the design of other monuments. The central figure was copied several times, including seven replicas in the United States.[1]

Monuments in Europe

Luther Monument in Worms, 1900
Luther Monument and the wreckage of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, 1970s
Luther Monument in Elze


Monuments in other continents

Luther Monument in Copenhagen

References

  1. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: Rietschel, Ernest Friedrich August, 1804–1861, sculptor and Rietschel, Ernest Friedrich August, 1804–1861, sculptor. (copy after)
  2. ^ Statues Hither & Dither: Dresden
  3. ^ Statues Hither & Dither: Eisleben
  4. ^ Statues Hither & Dither: Hamburg
  5. ^ Statues Hither & Dither: Norderney Luther
  6. ^ Statues Hither & Dither: Nürnberg
  7. ^ wfn.org: in memory of 180 years of Lutheranism in Brazil Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, 15 July 2004
  8. ^ Chile: First Luther Monument in Spanish-speaking Latin America, Lutherischer Weltbund, 6 February 2003
  9. ^ Om Lutherkirken Archived 2005-02-06 at the Wayback Machine lutherkirken.dk
  10. ^ Luther Statue on the University of Alberta Campus Map
  11. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  12. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  13. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  14. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  15. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: Eintrag im Art Inventories Catalogue
  16. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  17. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  18. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  19. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  20. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  21. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  22. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue
  23. ^ Smithsonian American Art Museum: in Art Inventories Catalogue

Literature

  • Otto Kammer: Reformationsdenkmäler des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts: Eine Bestandsaufnahme. Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, Leipzig 2004, ISBN 3-374-02188-3.
  • Christiane Theiselmann: Das Wormser Lutherdenkmal Ernst Rietschels (1856–1868) im Rahmen der Lutherrezeption des 19. Jahrhunderts. Europäische Hochschulschriften, Frankfurt am Main 1992, ISBN 3-631-44332-3.
  • Familienblatt der Lutheriden-Vereinigung, 3. Band, Heft 5, 13. Jahrgang, Februar 1939. Digitalisat (PDF).

External links

  • Media related to Statues of Martin Luther at Wikimedia Commons
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