Luther en Calvijn in de weegschaal 1710 - 1730

This anonymous Dutch etching from the early 18th century, "Luther en Calvijn in de weegschaal" (Luther and Calvin in the Balance), presents a satirical allegory of the Reformation. The artwork depicts the Protestant reformers, Luther and Calvin, suspended on a scale, weighing their doctrines against the Catholic Church, represented by a building. The imagery suggests a battle for religious supremacy, with the "scales" of justice ultimately tipping towards the side of the Protestant reformers. The scene is set against a dramatic landscape with a hand extending from the heavens, indicating the presence of God, which adds another layer of significance to this complex and historically charged depiction.