A previously unknown painting by a German artist has sparked a debate among art historians. This painting by Josef Franz (b. 1503) depicts a pivotal moment in western religious history, the moment when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenburg, Germany.
It was not an uncommon act for students to nail religious/philosophical challenges to the door of the church. However, it was the nature of Luther’s challenge that changed history. His theses began the Protestant reformation. The painting by Franz has been dated to within 2-3 years of the actual event. Since Franz lived in Wittenburg at the time of Luther’s posting, it is possible that he was an eyewitness to the event, or at least heard it firsthand from someone who did witness it. This makes it probably the most accurate rendering of the event found so far.
What is causing the controversy is not the actual image of Luther posting his theses, but the other paper seen tacked to the door of the church. Reports hold that the doors to the church usually held challenges. What is unusual is that the second paper posted to the door does not depict a challenge, but a drawing. It has not been reported that pictures were ever posted to the door. The drawing depicts a tall, thin man wrapped around a tree. The man appears to be dressed in modern business attire, a black suit, white shirt and black tie.
Conservators and art historians have minutely examined the painting and have come to the conclusion that the drawing was done at the time of the original painting, not added at a later time. How a seemingly modern image came to appear in a painting nearly 500 years old is a mystery. The historians at the Louvre are also debating what the significance of the drawing is. Some of them maintain that the image is an accurate depiction of what was on the door at the time Luther posted his theses. Others hold that the drawing was not actually posted on the door, but was placed in the painting by the artist for symbolic purposes. What the image of the man symbolizes has escaped the historians, however.
Little is known about the artist Josef Franz. He was born in Wittenburg, Germany in 1503. He showed a definite talent for drawing and painting at a very young age. Some have gone so far as to call him a prodigy. He completed several paintings while still a child. This newly-discovered painting appears to be the last painting Franz completed. While what happened to him is a mystery, he seems to have disappeared about 6 months after completing this painting. At the time he was working on a portrait for the local Bishop. The painting was never finished. In the lower corner of the canvas, which was still blank, is a crudely drawn multi-limbed stick figure and the statement “Er Kennt Mich”, which translates into “He knows me”.
It is unknown what happened to Franz. He may have become ill and died with no record (a fairly common occurrence at the time.) It is also possible that he simply moved to another region and was forgotten. What is known is that no paintings by Franz from after this time have been discovered. Some state that the fact he did not finish the painting of the Bishop, along with no record of his death, may indicate foul play. All that is known is that Franz disappeared before finishing the painting.
Historians are hoping to find more works by Franz, in hopes that it will help clear up the mystery of his disappearance and shed more light about the life of this mysterious child prodigy.
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