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What was happening during the Christian movement at this time?Narration #2

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What was happening during the Christian movement at this time?Narration #2

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During the 15th century, the Roman Catholic church was the most powerful institution  in Western Europe. The Catholic church used the threat of eternal damnation and excommunication to scare its followers into submission. The church leaders were more concerned with politics rather than piety and taught that a believer must buy indulgences in order to have their sins pardoned and gain access to heaven. These indulgences were used exclusively for the church's gain. For example, these indulgences funded the rebuilding of St. Peter's Church in Rome, which still stands today (Van Voorst, 172-173).

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Master of Zweder van Culemborg

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Geert Grote (1340-1384)

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During the 2nd quarter of the 15th century

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Does the piece reflect the conditions of the time period in my opinioon? Narration #1

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Does the piece reflect the conditions of the time period in my opinioon? Narration #1

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In my opinion, the piece is a valid reflection of the perceptions surrounding purgatory at that time. It depicts a man and woman kneeling in prayer in purgatory. The fact that they are on their knees in prayer symbolizes that they had hope that their present could be changed. This reflects the belief that purgatory was an intermediate, temporary location (Van Voorst, 172). The souls being naked is a testament to the cleansing of the soul, with no clothes, or distractions, to hinder the purification process. Lastly, the flames at their feet symbolize that purgatory  was not a pleasant place, which spoke to why Catholics were so motivated to have their sins pardoned.
Retrieved from Walter's Art Museum website
Link: https://art.thewalters.org/detail/88633/two-souls-kneel-in-prayer-in-purgatory/

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Netherlands, Utrecht

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What does this piece depict about Christianity/Christian history?

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What does this piece depict about Christianity/Christian history?

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Throughout the 1500s, the Roman Catholic church taught that Christians, despite their beliefs, have sins that need to be purged. They taught that after physical death, these believers would go to a place called “purgatory” to be cleansed/purified before entering heaven. The length of their stay was contingent upon the amount of indulgences they payed. Indulgences were “documents certifying the forgiveness of temporary punishment in purgatory still owed to God after sin is forgiven.”

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Van Voorst, Robert E. Readings in Christianity, 3 rd edition. Cengage Learning, 2015.

“Two Souls Kneeling in Prayer in Purgatory.” Walters Art Museum. Geert Grote, Master of Zweder van Culembourg, 1931, https://thewalters.org.

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Two Souls Kneeling in Prayer in Purgatory

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Two Souls Kneeling in Prayer in Purgatory