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| Martin Luther by Carl Dopmeyer |
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| Hermann Wilhelm Boedeker by Carl Dopmeyer
Ámong Carl Dopmeyer's most famous works is the heroic statue of Martin Luther standing on the Southside of the Tower of the Marktkirche, Hannover. This Market Church of St.George and St. Jacob stands on the Market Square and its 97 Metres high Tower is a city landmark. The church dates from Catholic times, having been opened around 1336. The Square in front of the church saw the gathering held to inaugurate the new religion of Luther in 1533, and in 1536 the church was taken from the Catholic Church and made a Lutheran church.
One does not have to be an art critic to appreciate the power of this piece. It is heroic in every sense except the subject matter. It is a propaganda work, bearing no resemblance to the real ex Priest Martin Luther. But in Germany Martin Luther of popular myth has nothing to do with the reality of the man. It was Adolph Hitler, the Fuhrer himself who said :
"I do insist on the certainty that sooner or later - once we hold power - Christianity will be overcome and the German Church, without a Pope and without the Bible, and Luther if he could be with us, would give us his blessing."
Why was the Fuhrer so enamoured of Martin Luther? They shared three things in common : . a consuming hatred for the Catholic Church. . a consuming hatred for Jews. . an intense devotion to the German nation. |
