The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century resulted in a religious divide in Europe between Roman Catholics and Protestants. This movement challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and Pope. In response, the Counter Reformation aimed to strengthen Catholic dogma through grand religious artwork that glorified the Church, Christ, and saints to inspire virtue and combat the spread of Protestantism. Catholic art during this period featured emotionally intense depictions of key Catholic concepts like the Immaculate Conception to distinguish Catholic beliefs and encourage piety.

1. Impact of reformation and counter
reformation on art
Loveneesh Sharma, Phd Scholar, Panjab University, Chandigarh

2. Reformation
Was appeared as a movement in 16th c Europe which challenged the role of pope and catholic
church in Europe
On the matters of salvation and purgation, Martin Luther and allied Protestants reacted on the
role of pope in the church, mentioning that pope does not have any authority in the process of
purgatory to the soul after death and neither it is written in any biblical record .
Moreover, protestants do not want to follow what pope said, because if it is a matter of faith to
be followed protestants found bible as an authentic source and instruction manual which can
guide them. (followed bible like 10 commandments of god)
One important thing that had come up was the matter of salvation, by paying donation to
church. This corruption was also challenged by protestants and also by poor and middle class
people, considered unfair, that confession by offering money to get salvation is neither
narrated or written in any biblical records. (salvation become the property of elites)
Also the role of images in the Catholic church and their purpose was decried by protestants.
Projection of nudity and images of saints and role and purpose of other biblical figures such as
Mary, and other saints were considered.

3. What happened ?
• Rise of middle class
• Logical reasoning regarding the existence of
man and his death which, people found was
not in the hand of pope.
• People could think of themselves and about
their identity in this world.
• Humanism
• People could overcome from the orthodoxy of
Catholic Church

4. What happened in arts
• During reformation- production of church art become less
• Spiritual intensity become less- and material living was
approached
• Faith in Christ and do good was the concept
• Role & purpose of Images of saints and other members of
family of Christ become in depictions
• Question is role of women- Mother Mary- negated
• Artist come up with his individual expression
• Christ become important figure-story is of Christ
• Illustrated books and manuscripts become important
• Decoration become important
• Artist could focus himself in techniques of making art.
• Limited role of large works in church- must be a place of
peace not a wonder
• Secular images comes into existence importantly. (like
greeko-roman civic basilicas )

5. Tintoretto

6. • The Protestant Reformation was a religious
movement that occurred in Western Europe
during the 16th century that resulted in a
divide in Christianity between Roman
Catholics and Protestants. This movement
"created a North-South split in Europe, where
generally Northern countries became
Protestant, while Southern countries
remained Catholic

7. Counter reformation
• Now in answer to protestant reformation---church had
to give answer
• How have church comes with new imagery in
depictions.
• And necessity of one true church was required from
the breakaway group of protestant churches in Rome
• Pope remain the important figure in church-where as
reformers reframe the hierarchy within the church.
• What catholic church did was to give a grandeur to
church and imagery,
• Church felt in the portrayal of religious imagery should
be grand enough to portray natural beauty, and
emotional intensity

8. • All arts must glorify the church and the images of
Christ and the holy family’
• Depiction of saint become important since they inspire
viewer to follow virtues.
• Decoration become important.
• Altarpieces become larger and easier to view from
distance
• Figures becomes dramatic
• Postulating the idea of promised world
• Images of popes were involved in the churches lateron

9. • Artists should therefore focus on the distinctive aspects of Catholic
dogma, including: The Immaculate Conception, The Annunciation of the
Virgin, The Transfiguration of Christ, and others.
• The roles of the Virgin Mary, the Saints and the Sacraments were also a
distinctive feature of Catholicism and were to be illustrated accordingly.
• Reformers stipulated that Biblical painting should be direct and
compelling in its narrative presentation, and should be rendered in a clear,
accurate fashion, without unnecessary embellishments.
• Catholic reformers- in particular, pious individuals such as Ignatius of
Loyola, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Francis de Sales and Philip Neri -
insisted that Catholic art should encourage piety: thus artists should paint
and sculpt scenes of appropriate spiritual intensity.
• how paintings and statues were to be executed, reformers stressed the
importance of making them as understandable and as relevant to
ordinary people, as possible. Using these techniques, Catholic art was to
combat the spread of Protestantism throughout Europe, especially in
areas like France, southern Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Bohemia
and Hungary.