Portret van Martin Luther 1813 - 1879

This engraving of Martin Luther was made by Timothy Stansfeld Engleheart, an English artist, in the 19th century. Luther’s image here is less a likeness than a statement about the cultural importance of the Reformation in the 1800s. Engleheart’s Luther appears as a scholar, surrounded by books and the trappings of learning. The setting evokes the power of the written word in challenging established authority. This image speaks to the 19th-century concern with historical and religious identity, especially in a time of rapid social change. What is interesting is the way that the artist positions Luther as an iconic figure, embodying a set of values rooted in religious reform. To understand this image better, we can research the production and distribution of historical prints in 19th-century Britain and their role in shaping public opinion. By looking at institutional records, we can better understand the ways in which historical figures were used to promote particular ideological agendas.