An Analysis Of Jorg Breu's Illustration Of Reformation-Era Art

Another illustration of Reformation-era art is Jorg Breu’s “Engraving Depicting the Sale of Indulgences” (1530). This work illustrates the sale of indulgences within a village and features Catholic clerics, a peddler collecting the indulgence sale’s revenue, and the villagers themselves. Additionally, the clerics sit on first-class horses holding symbols of the Church, the peddler sits at a table next to a chest containing indulgence revenue, and the villagers in attendance are aging or elderly members of society. As a whole, the arrangement of this illustration allows clear visibility of every character’s face, and accents the procedure of indulgences sales.