Denomination picture (St. John's Church Schweinfurt)

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The center of the denomination picture

The denomination picture in St. John's Church in Schweinfurt is the oldest of its kind in southern Germany . It shows the handover of the Confessio Augustana by the evangelical imperial estates in 1530. It is located in the men's choir in the north of the church and fills the west wall there.

history

The oil painting was created at the end of the 16th century, the other known similar pictures were all created in the 17th century. It shows the presentation of the Augsburg Confession and the associated legality of Lutheran teaching. The artist is unknown. Similar images exist in Bad Windsheim , Mögeldorf , Kasendorf , Weißenburg , Kulmbach , Helmstedt , Eisenach , Waldenburg , Coburg and in the form of a copper engraving by Johannes Dürr . The Eisenacher and Kasendorfer pictures are copies of the Schweinfurt original.

description

The entire denominational picture

The painting is 231 cm × 143 cm. It is divided into three parts and depicts over 500 people. The composition of the picture is loosened up by several gold-framed Bible quotations . A heavy black frame borders the oil painting.

Center

The lower part of the picture is dominated by inscriptions . In the center of the picture is: “Quite a few fabulous Helten princes Bundt city acquaintance which the Augspurgischen / Confession Anno 30 undtwritten andt Keyser Carolo 5 handed over with Beystandt divine / genaden steiff Andt Vest daBey to stay. So God help them. "

A pedestal takes up the center of the picture almost completely. Three steps lead up on either side. Emperor Charles V is enthroned in the center behind a balustrade . He wears a gold helmet, a cloak and a sumptuous armor. A gold braid decorates the cape. A wrap on the balustrade picks up on this hem. The emperor turns his gaze slightly to the left. His scepter in his right hand rests with the tip on an open book. He grasps the balustrade with his left hand. A canopy decorated with porters and a golden saddlecloth rises up behind him.

Charles's face resembles a portrait and is borrowed from a Titian painting from 1548. The exact heraldic attributes characterize the picture. The imperial canopy is limited by the two pillars of Hercules , which have two different crowns. Two enveloping panels of fabric are embroidered with the motto “PLVS / VLTRA”. Under the crowns you can see the coats of arms of the areas that Karl ruled. The double-headed eagle rises behind the emperor .

Eight Lutheran imperial princes kneel below the emperor . Among them are their coats of arms in groups of two, along with the coats of arms of the cities of Windsheim, Weißenburg, Heilbronn and Kempten , which converted to the new confession. This is mentioned in an inscription between the coats of arms: "These 4 cities afterwards cheerfully committed themselves to the Augsburg Confession in the still-coming Reichstag, in order to persevere with God's help."

The imperial princes represent from left to right: Wolfgang , Prince of Anhalt, he wears a full beard and gray hair. His neighbor, the swearing Philipp , Landgrave of Hesse, is the only one to look at the viewer. However, he can only be identified by his coat of arms. Georg , Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Kulmbach, is portrayed as a white-haired man with a book that bears the inscription "Apologia der Confession, translated from Latin by Justum Jonam ".

In front of the emperor, in an ermine coat and crowned with the electoral hat , one recognizes Elector Johann , Duke of Saxony. He, too, carries a book on which the lines “So we keep it now, that man may become righteous without the works of the law by faith alone. Romans 3. Cap. ”. The brothers Ernst and Ludwig, dukes of Lüneburg, follow him on the left . The representatives of the cities of Nuremberg and Reutlingen are dressed in black.

Right picture side

The right side of the picture shows the most important elements of the Lutheran worship which fill a larger space. Are shown the baptism , the Lord's Supper , the Sermon and the chant .

baptism

The crucified Jesus occupies the center of the page. To the left of him is the baptismal font hung with white hangings . The sacrament of baptism is underlined by a fine golden line that connects the wounds of the crucified with the person being baptized. A clergyman blesses the child. Godmother, father and a little boy surround the stone. All have important elements of baptism in their hands.

The base of the baptismal font bears the inscription “ Math. 10. Let the little children come to me and do not prevent them, for such is the kingdom of God”, next to it is the line “This is the one who comes with water and the Spirit in the first epistle on the 3rd cap. ". A third Bible verse about the baptismal church reads: “For how many of you are baptized are drawn to Christ. Galatians 3rd cap. "

Last supper

The Lord's Supper is shown in both forms and thus underlines the Lutheran character of the picture. Many scriptures surround the scene. At the edge of the picture: “We are not redeemed from our own walk through perishable things, as silver and gold , but with the precious blood of Christ as an innocent and immaculate lamb . 1. Petri 1. ”Further up on the altar step follows:“ Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? Hell where is your victory But thanks be to God, who gave us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1st Cor. 15. Cap. 1."

On the altar that dominates the scene are the chalice , the host box and the Bible. A stream of blood from the crucifix fills the chalice. The apostle Paul stands next to it with a jug. Matthew , next to him, holds up the tablet with the words of institution : “Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, Take it eat, this is my body that is given for you. Do such in my memory. Likewise he took the cup after the Lord's Supper, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Take it and drink from it all: This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this as often as you drink it, in memory of me. "

The evangelists Mark and Luke stand next to the board . Mark points to two keys at the feet of the crucified. The open Bible shows the Lord's Prayer , two clergymen serving the Lord's Supper to the bystanders. They speak the words of institution: “Take and drink, this is my blood” (right) and “Take and eat, this is my body” (left). The white tablecloth of the altar is covered with writings by Martin Luther . They represent the other evangelical teachings. There are several frames and a trestle under the table. Some important representatives are named in a star shape around the skeleton: " D. Carlstadt , Zwingel , Schwenckfeldt , Campanus , Ecolumpadt , Calvinus , Theodor Betzer , Müntzer , Anabaptists , Pope arch heretic, and their cousin the devil."

The crossbars are covered with white cloths with golden Bible quotes. On the left side one reads “See, this is God's Lamb who bears the sin of the world. Joh. Am 1. Cap. "," The blood of Jesus Christ makes us clean from all sins , "on the right side:" Truly, he bore our illness and inflicted our pains on him. Isa. 53. ”and“ So God loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. "

sermon

On the far right edge of the picture, a priest in a white choir shirt preaches on a pulpit . On the side is a pulpit clock with the biblical quotations “Joel am 2. Cap. And after this I want to pour out my spirit on all flesh ”. Behind the preacher is the slogan: "Psalm 33. For thus he speaks, and it was done and he commanded, and it stood fast" and on the front of the pews , "John 6. Cap. Whoever comes to me will not starve, and whoever believes in me will not thirst either. ”Next to it is a book.

Church music

In the background of the picture singers stand in a circle around their conductor . They carry instruments, the conductor has a sheet of music in his hand. An organ hangs on the right wall . Several biblical quotations refer to the praise of God : "Psalm CL Praise him with bright cymbals, praise him with full-sounding cymbals", "Praise him with drums and dance, praise him with seytes and whistles. Psalm CL “Below the choir follow the proverbs“ Praise him with trumpets, praise him with psalteries and harps. Psalm CL "and" Psalm CL All that breathes praise the Lord, Alleluia. "

Wide-open church doors appear in the background. People stream into the first from another church, of which one only recognizes the portal. This is to show the attraction of the Lutheran Church. God the Father hovers over the scene with a halo of light . He carries the banner: “This is my dear son whom I am well pleased. You should hear it. ”A saying also appears in the halo:“ Gloria in excelsis deo ”(Glory to God on high).

Left picture side

On the left side of the picture, less space is given to the three elements of the divine service, as there are several dignitaries of the empire in the foreground.

Catechism lessons

The edge of the picture is again provided with a quotation from the Bible: “The Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit that we are children of God. If we are children, we are also heirs, namely God's heirs and joint heirs with Christ. But that we may suffer so that we may also be raised to glory. Romans 8th cap. ”Above it stand the dignitaries, turned to the right, followed by a group of women who look to the center of the picture. A clergyman is sitting there on an armchair . A book lies open on his lap. On the left are some people whom the clergyman asks: “Whose faith are you? Why are you Christians? “There is an answer. " We are Christians because we believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized in his name." Several catechism candidates are behind the interviewees.

confession

Confession is being made further in the background. Two groups and several individuals look to the left. There are chairs on the wall with two dark-clad people. One Bible quote reads: “ Ezekiel 33. Cap. As surely as I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that he should be converted. ”Open confessionals correspond to the Lutheran rule, since confession is public there.

wedding

At the very back, already on the church wall, there is a winged altar . A bridal couple is married by a clergyman . Several guests surround the scene. Two quotes from the Bible next to the altar read: “Genes. on the 2nd cap. God created man, in his image, in God's image he created him and created them a male and a female ”and“ Genes. on the 2nd cap. And the Lord God said it is not good that the man should be alone. I want to make him an assistant who is around him. ”Above you can see two sketchy drawings on the church wall above that probably represent a man and a woman.

literature

  • Wolfgang Brückner: Lutheran Confessional Paintings from the 16th to 18th Century. The illustrated Confessio Augustana. Regensburg 2007.
  • Angelika Marsch: Pictures of the Augsburg Confession and its anniversaries. Weissenhorn 1980.
  • Erich Schneider : Evangelical churches in Schweinfurt . In: Great Art Guides . tape 201 . Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 1997, ISBN 978-3-7954-1143-5 .
  • Wiltrud Wößner: The Johanniskirche. Interesting facts from eight centuries from A to Z. 31 essays on components, furnishings and art. In: Evangelical Lutheran Church Community St. Johannis (Ed.): 450 years of the Reformation in Schweinfurt. Anniversary year fonts. Schweinfurt 1992.

Web links

Commons : Denominational Image  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Schneider, Erich: Evangelical Churches in Schweinfurt. P. 18.
  2. ↑ Landscape Museum Kasendorf: Denomination picture , accessed on July 17, 2013.
  3. ↑ See: Marsch, Angelika: Pictures for the Augsburg Confession.
  4. ^ Parish office St. Johannis: denominational picture ( memento from February 1, 2014 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on July 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ Woessner, Wiltrud: The Johanniskirche. 31 essays. P. 153 f.
  6. ↑ Woessner, Wiltrud: The Johanniskirche. 31 essays. P. 158.