Her likeness was frequently painted, and at various periods of her life, by the distinguished artists of that age, such as Cranach, senior, Cranach, junior, and Hans Holbein, junior. Cranach, senior, painted her likeness in oil colors sixteen times, and the other artists mentioned, several times each. Many of these original portraits are still to be seen in the various picture galleries of Europe. There are extant more than forty different copper-plate and wood-engravings of her likeness. It has also been transferred to porcelain-ware and other articles of domestic use. A number of medals containing her likeness have been struck to commemorate her virtues, and plaster casts of the bust of full life size have also been made. All this shows the high esteem in which she has ever been held by those who can appreciate exalted virtue and genuine Christian character.
As a proof of her artistic skill and her proficiency in ornamental needle-work, even in that distant age, there is, to this day, exhibited in the vestry-room of the cathedral at Merseburg, a blue satin surplice which she embroidered for her husband, and which he wore on the occasion of some great solemnity, and in the former University library at Wittenberg, they still show a likeness of Luther, neatly and elegantly worked in silk by Catharine. But these works will perish, whilst the results of her faith, hope, and charity, will endure forever.
THE END.
FOOTNOTES
[1]1 Cor. 7; 7, 8, 26, 28.
[2]1 Tim. 3; 2, 12. Tit. 1; 6. 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6. Matt. 8; 14. Mark 1; 1. Luke 4; 38.
[3]The passage 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6, speaks of Christian married women, who accompanied the apostles on their travels. From this and other passages it is undeniable that most of the apostles, and that, too, during their apostleship, were married men. John probably lived unmarried; and Paul seems to say the same of himself. 1 Cor. 7; 7, 8, compare ch. 9; 5, 6. The idea that in Phil. 4; 3, he is speaking of his own wife, conflicts with the connection of the verse.
[4]Melanchthon married (Nov. 25, 1520,) Anna Krappe, daughter of the burgomaster of Wittenberg; Carlstadt, (Dec. 26, 1521,) Anna von Michael. Soon after, he gave his reasons for this step in a letter to the Elector, in which he says, “I have learned from the Scriptures that there is no condition of life more pleasing to God, more blessed and more consistent with Christian liberty than the married state, if we live in it agreeably to God’s design.” Luther highly approved of the measure.
[5]He thus expressed himself in one of his tracts: “I hope I have come so far that by the grace of God I may remain as I am, although I have not yet got over the difficulty.”
[6]His brother and predecessor, Frederick the Wise, had died May 5, 1525.