Three Weeks Left to See Martin Luther Exhibit at the Morgan Museum

MURRAY HILL, NY — To mark the 500-year anniversary of German theologist Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to a church door in 1517, the Morgan Library and Museum is hosting the exhibit Word and Image: Martin Luther's Reformation.

In case you need a little refresher, Luther wrote his 95 Theses to protest the Roman Catholic Church's sale of indulgences — forgiveness for sins. In doing so, Luther challenged the the Holy Roman emperor and the pope, launching the Protestant Reformation.

Word and Image explores what the Morgan calls "among the most successful religious movements in history," one that altered "western society and culture forever." The exhibit particularly highlights Luther's creative use of "rapidly evolving print technology" to promote his views.

The show includes art works, texts and historical artifacts, including more than 90 objects related to the Ninety-Five Theses, and nearly 40 paintings, prints and drawings by the German Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder.

The majority of the works in the show are loans from German museums and have never before been exhibited in the United States.

The exhibit runs through Jan 22. at the Morgan Library and Museum, 225 Madison Ave. at East 36th St. Tours are available Tuesday through Sunday, 3 p.m.

Image via Creative Commons