Luther as hercules germanicus. Woodcut, zentralbibliothek, zürich. Basel, where hans holbein worked and had his studio, was a leading centre for disseminating reformation ideas, owing to the excellence and freedom of its presses. Most of the reformer martin luther's books were published there. At the time holbein designed this print, he was working for both traditional patrons and for reformers. Comparing luther to hercules, the slayer of the many-headed hydra, he shows him slaying churchmen.
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