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Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Zwingli, Ulrich |
Object ID# |
MC 0682 |
Artist (original) |
Artist Martin Götze (b.1865) |
Date |
1484-1531 |
Description |
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) was a priest, humanist, and reformer. He established the reformation in Switzerland, based in the city of Zürich. He helped spark the city's break with Rome in 1522 by joining with 12 Council Members in eating sausage during Lent, which violated Lenten fasting laws. Zwingli was a friend of Erasmus, and a diligent student of Scripture. He clung to Scripture as the guide for his reforms under the principle that anything not included in Scripture was to be rejected. In this vein, he encouraged priests to marry, denounced monasticism, zealously destroyed religious images (iconoclasm), and rejected the Mass, replacing it with an understanding of communion as symbol and commemoration of the death of Christ. Luther and Zwingli met at the Colloquy of Marburg in 1529 to unify their movements of reform, but could not come to unity because of their disagreements on communion. Luther reportedly said in frustration and resignation, "we are not of the same spirit." Whereas Luther held to consubstantiation, where the physical elements of bread and wine are understood to contain the physical presence Christ, Zwingli understood communion as only symbols of divine grace, and not actually vessels of grace. One group that emerged out from under Zwingli's reform movement in Zürich criticized him for not following his principle for reform to its natural conclusions, particularly with relation to baptism. This group came to be known as Anabaptists or "re-baptizers," since they rejected infant baptism and so baptized one another again as adults. Led by Conrad Grebel, many among these Swiss Anabaptists also rejected the use of the sword or identification with the State, which incited many against them, Zwingli included, and resulted in persecution and martyrdom. Zwingli was killed in battle at Cappel in 1531. This sculpture is the work of Martin Götze (b.1865) and is located at Zwinglikirche, Berlin. In the original, Zwingli is holding a sword in his right hand with the blade aimed downward. |
Place of Origin |
Switzerland |
Medium |
Statue |
Material |
Bronze (orig.) // Plaster composite (copy) |
Location of Original |
Deutsches Museum Berlin |
Dimensions Details |
Height 800 mm |