FFCC Review Activity
Name of Work
Artist
Style
When fully completed, email to Mr. Lugo.
Allegory of Law and Grace
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Northern Renaissance
!
FORM
The Allegory of Law and Grace is a woodcut. These prints made it
easier for many people across Europe to see it. Prints were also
cheap, making them more accessible to almost everyone, unlike
formally commissioned artworks.
FUNCTION
The function of this work is representing the Protestant ideals.
Throughout the Allegory of Grace and Law, one can see that in the
Catholic religion, it’s impossible to be saved just by following the
exact words/laws of the church. This work shows that one must be
saved by God’s grace and one’s own interpretation of the Bible,
like in the Protestant religion.
CONTEXT
Created during the Northern Renaissance and the Protestant
Reformation, this piece of artwork shows how new members of
Protestantism feel about salvation. The Reformation happened
because Martin Luther believed that you should not buy your way
into Heaven, but instead do good and open up to faith. Catholics
created an idea that in order to get into Heaven, one could make
financial donations to the church, and Catholic priests across
Europe were selling Holy Relics to appease sins. Cranach is in
favor of Martin Luther’s way of thinking, and shows that Catholics
will not be saved because of the strict laws and beliefs in
Catholicism. The Allegory of Law and Grace is one of the most
influential works during this time period.
CONTENT
The Allegory of Law and Grace has two sides representing
Catholicism (left) and Protestantism (right). The main focus of the
work is to ask ‘how do people get into Heaven?’, and to see how
different sects of Christianity answer this.
Grace (Protestant)
• Three scenes (annunciation, crucifixion, and resurrection)
• John the Baptist praying and pointing to Jesus on the cross,
representing how the Protestant religion allows people to
interpret the Bible how they choose (people find salvation
through Christ)
Law (Catholicism)
•
•
•
A skeleton and a demon force a naked (vulnerable) man into
Hell
Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit
Moses and other Disciples watch these events unfold as
Moses holds up the 10 commandments (literally showing the
connection between the law of the Bible and damnation in
the eyes of the Catholic church)
Form
The Allegory of Law and Grace is a woodcut. These prints made it
easier for many people across Europe to see it. Prints were also cheap,
making them more accessible to almost everyone, unlike formally
commissioned artworks.
Function
The function of this work is representing the Protestant ideals.
Throughout the Allegory of Grace and Law, one can see that in the
Catholic religion, it’s impossible to be saved just by following the
exact words/laws of the church. This work shows that one must be
saved by God’s grace and one’s own interpretation of the Bible, like
in the Protestant religion.
Content
The Allegory of Law and Grace has two sides representing
Catholicism (left) and Protestantism (right). The main focus of
the work is to ask ‘how do people get into Heaven?’, and to see
how different sects of Christianity answer this.
Grace (Protestant)
• Three scenes (annunciation, crucifixion, and resurrection)
• John the Baptist praying and pointing to Jesus on the cross,
representing how the Protestant religion allows people to
interpret the Bible how they choose (people find salvation
through Christ)
Law (Catholicism)
• A skeleton and a demon force a naked (vulnerable) man into
Hell
• Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit
• Moses and other Disciples watch these events unfold as
Moses holds up the 10 commandments (literally showing
the connection between the law of the Bible and damnation
in the eyes of the Catholic church)
Context
Created during the Northern Renaissance and the Protestant
Reformation, this piece of artwork shows how new members of
Protestantism feel about salvation. The Reformation happened
because Martin Luther believed that you should not buy your way
into Heaven, but instead do good and open up to faith. Catholics
created an idea that in order to get into Heaven, one could make
financial donations to the church, and Catholic priests across
Europe were selling Holy Relics to appease sins. Cranach is in
favor of Martin Luther’s way of thinking, and shows that
Catholics will not be saved because of the strict laws and beliefs
in Catholicism. The Allegory of Law and Grace is one of the
most influential works during this time period.