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Sale of Indulgences
ABOUT THE READING In 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door
of a Catholic church in Wittenburg, Germany. One of his complaints against the
church concerned the sale of indulgences, which would clear the buyer from
any sins he or she had committed. The woodcut below was made by Matthias
Gerung, a German artist, and depicts the sale of indulgences.
As you look pay close attention to the details in the woodcut.
At the top of the woodcut
is a scene of a Protestant
/
service.
The artist cut a scene into
a flat piece of wood. The
wood was then inked and
used in a printing press to
make many copies.
The two figures wearing
hats who stand on either
side of the table are devils
dressed as cardinals.They
are selling indulgences
and then giving the money
to the pope.
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The figure on the far left
is the pope. Notice the
little devil in his lap.