The Protestant Reformation and Interior Church Architecture - Art Exhibition

The first half of the 16th century saw an international religious and cultural conflict that rose within Western Christianity between Roman Catholics and the newly established Protestants. Key figures such as Martin Luther and Jean Calvin challenged papal authority and the Catholic church's ability to define Christian practice thus instigating the Protestant Reformation. Within church confines differences in values and beliefs such as the legitimacy of purchasing salvation through indulgences or interpretations of the Eucharist transformed the spaces in which Protestants practiced their new version of Christianity. As a result of this split, Lutherans encouraged the display of a restricted range of religious images through an adherence to the Ten Commandment's prohibition of idolatry and creation of sculpted images of God. Overt religious images in public spaces and churches were subject to attacks from the most radical iconoclasts. Often religious artworks were commissioned through private enterprise allowing for the preservation of select works to remain untouched to this day. This exhibition aims to expose the transition of church elements and design through a replication of the first Protestant cathedral and a collection of artworks seen within these sacred spaces or related to the region. The Torgau Castle Chapel was consecrated by Luther himself. Within its barren white and gold accented walls the modest chapel features three lone elements, a grand organ, a white stone altar and an elevated ornate pulpit. The interior space differs considerable with the Brussels Cathedral. Under the strict jurisdiction of the heavily Catholic Spanish Empire, this massive cathedral houses a wide array of stained glass windows and atlantes of the twelve apostles on par with Catholicism's incorporation of religious images aiding in worship. Through an analysis of visual elements present within the Brussel Cathedral and the Torgau Castle Chapel, conclusions can be drawn about this initial religious impetus to further explain how Northern Europeans evolved to further define their religious spaces to accommodate a changing belief system. In addition, a supplemental collection of objects and artworks from a number of locations will further illustrate the Protestant Reformation's effect on Northern European renaissance art. Ultimately, this comprehensive exhibition space mockup touches upon both aspects of exhibition design and curatorial work.