Yes - the Guardian article was interesting. I wondered a couple of things though and wonder what you think.
At the time maybe the lines between Protestant and Catholic were not so clearly drawn. Reformation proceeded at an uneven pace. As Brett points out in his book "The Plain Style", "Where images were concerned, Luther took a conservative attitude, likening them in a familiar argument to 'the people's books'". Cardinal Albrecht sent a present to Luther on his wedding.
The other thing is the ease with which we read later ideas about Fine Art and the Artist into earlier times. I am not sure Cranach would have understood our ideas about these things. His was a workshop and he provided paintings like other craftsmen provided chairs etc. But keep us thinking with your comments and observations and fascinating links.
yours
PeterS
peter smith | 04.22.08 - 1:12 pm | #