On January 6, I took the opportunity to go with some friends to Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation, a special exhibit hosted by the Minneapolis Institute of Art. 2017 marks the 500^th anniversary of the publication of Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, a series of arguments against the Catholic Church’s practice of selling indulgences; this landmark event is recognized as the start of the Protestant Reformation.

The exhibit holds a treasure trove of priceless artwork and historical artifacts that have traveled outside of Germany for the first time ever. As you move from room to room, you see objects from the world Luther grew up in, and the world he eventually helped create. Wooden Catholic Madonnas, opulent church altar pieces, and bishops’ cloth of gold robes mark the Church that Luther knew and worked within as an Augustinian monk. An example of a written indulgence holds a prominent place, a thick paragraph of elegant ink compressed onto paper half a millennia old and barely bigger than a grocery receipt.

A statue of Saint Anne holding her daughter, the Virgin Mary, and her grandson, Jesus. In 1505, Luther called out to Saint Anne in the middle of a violent storm, swearing to become a monk if she would protect him.

A written indulgence--these were believed to absolve a person of sin, provided they could afford to pay.

A particularly impressive artifact is the pulpit where Luther gave his final sermon on February 15, 1546, mounted on the gallery wall for all to admire and imagine Luther preaching. According to the pulpit’s description placard, Luther apparently closed his sermon with, “…I am too weak, so we want to leave it at that.” Bittersweet, humorously matter-of-fact words that I daresay wouldn’t be too out of place in a Minnesotan Lutheran church today. Above all, the printed word abounds in the displays, from papal bulls denouncing Luther as a heretic, to political and religious tracts published by other Protestant figures and supporters, to Luther Bibles translated into German, much to the Church’s dismay.

The pulpit where Martin Luther made his last sermon.

The Ortenburg Bible: a Luther-translated bible owned by Count Joachim of Ortenburg.

The exhibit is open until January 15, 2017 (just one more week!), and is a treat for anyone interested in Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Audio guides are available for download, and guided tours are available upon request. Tickets are $20, $16 for Mia members (free daily for Mia members at the Investor level or higher). People are welcome to take pictures of most of the displays! They encourage exhibit-goers to share their pictures on social media with #MartinLuther. If you can bring yourself to brave the cold, seeing this one-in-a-lifetime showcase of fantastic history is well worth a few hours of your time.

Martin Luther: Art and the Reformation from Minneapolis Insitute of Art on Vimeo.