Damnation and Salvation

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by Henk Bekker

Damnation and Salvation by Cranach

Probably the most interesting Lucas Cranach painting on display in the Herzogliches Ducal Museum in Gotha is “Damnation and Salvation” — it shows Luther’s teaching of every individual having to justify his actions before God. The tree of life divides the painting and action into two: left the sinful being driven to hell by the devils and to the right the repenting sinner finding eternal life through the grace of God. The one devil has a stomach that Hieronymus Bosch would have approved of.