Luther Monument


A Luther Monument is a monument dedicated to the reformer Martin Luther. The oldest one from 1821 is in Wittenberg. The largest one, the Luther Monument in Worms, was unveiled in 1868 as a composition of several statues, designed by Ernst Rietschel. Several monuments in the United States use a copy of Rietschel's main statue, including the Luther Monument in Washington, D.C., from 1884.

History

Monuments for Luther were mainly erected in the second half of the 19th century. In several German towns, the served as memorials for the Reformation which Luther initiate. They often connect to events to events in the reformer's life, sometimes a visit in the town. The oldest full-size monument is the, which was at the same time the first public full-size monument for a person who was not noble. It was designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow and unveiled in 1821.
The largest monument was designed by Ernst Rietschel, and unveiled in Worms in 1968. Several statues with Luther in the centre are arranged in the shape of a castle, reminiscent of Luther's hymn "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott". It influenced the design of other monuments. The central figure was copied several times, including seven replicas in the United States.

Monuments in Europe