Celebrating the 500 years of Reformation, in focus a very special object from the Latvian National museum of history.
Stove-tile with an Image of Martin Luther
Red clay relief decorated with a yellow glaze, found in the Livonian Order castle in Cēsis
Mid-16th century
This stove-tile from the Renaissance period, which is decorated with relief ornament and covered with a bright glaze, simultaneously reflects two revolutions that determined the fate of Europe – those of religion and mass media. The surface of the tile portrays a profile of the Catholic Church reformer – Martin Luther – with a typical 16th century headdress that was worn by men of science similar to the one he is depicted wearing in a painting that Lucas Cranach the Elder made during Luther’s prime.
Assuming that the stove-tile has been made by the local craftsmen from local red clay, we have to ask – how could they already have such a precise image of Luther in their possession so soon after the Reformation? The answer most probably lies in the other event taking place at the same time – the revolution of mass media with the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. It is assumed that the relief was created by copying a portrait of Luther appearing in some printed book that was already widely available in the 16th century.
The location – Cēsis Castle – adds significance to the item. Built in the beginning of the 13th century, rebuilt and expanded throughout the following centuries, Cēsis Castle in its prime was a significant support base for the political and military power of the Livonian Order, as well as one of the residences of the Master of the Order. The castle was occupied until 18th century – long after the collapse of Livonia – and it was witness to how the lands of Livonia transformed to Protestantism and its people became literate.
Originally published in Creative Museum Planner 2014 Designed by H2E