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A woodcut depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first, a conquerer with a crown and bow, the second, with a sword, tasked with taking peace from the earth, the third holding scales, and the fourth, Death itself. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: the first, a conquerer with a crown and bow, the second, with a sword, tasked with taking peace from the earth, the third holding scales, and the fourth, Death itself. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut border on the title page of Gallus Korn's personal narrative of leaving his monastic community after joining the Protestants. The border is comprised of a single woodcut depicting a Wild Man and Woman flanking a blank crest (bottom), a bagpipe player (right), a cherub and another figure (left), and a group of cherubs fighting a dragon (top).

A woodcut border on the title page of Gallus Korn's personal narrative of leaving his monastic community after joining the Protestants. The border is comprised of a single woodcut depicting a Wild Man and Woman flanking a blank crest (bottom), a bagpipe player (right), a cherub and another figure (left), and a group of cherubs fighting a dragon (top).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Ain Sermon Secundum Matheum printed in 1522. The border is composed of a single woodcut and depicts an architectural arch or nice decorated with plant motifs. Within the border and below the title, a cherub is depicted holding the Electoral Arms of Saxony (left) and the Ducal Arms of Saxony (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Ain Sermon Secundum Matheum printed in 1522. The border is composed of a single woodcut and depicts an architectural arch or nice decorated with plant motifs. Within the border and below the title, a cherub is depicted holding the Electoral Arms of Saxony (left) and the Ducal Arms of Saxony (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Christlicher Beweisung von dem Jungsten Tag printed in 1522. The border is composed of five woodcuts arranged around the title. The bottom of the border is made up of two decorative woodcuts, one featuring a bird amongst foliage (possibly a woodcut usually used for either the left or right side of a title page border, considering the orienation of the bird) and a more architectural decorative image. The left and right sides feature two similar pieces featuring blank crests, plinths and foliage.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Christlicher Beweisung von dem Jungsten Tag printed in 1522. The border is composed of five woodcuts arranged around the title. The bottom of the border is made up of two decorative woodcuts, one featuring a bird amongst foliage (possibly a woodcut usually used for either the left or right side of a title page border, considering the orienation of the bird) and a more architectural decorative image. The left and right sides feature two similar pieces featuring blank crests, plinths and foliage.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uon Menschenn Lere zu meyden printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut depicting two birds flanking a plinth (top), a man wearing a hat and playing a flute with a bee at his shoulder (right), two cherubs holding up a blank crest (bottom), and a humanoid fiure with a pig or cow's head holding a rosary (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uon Menschenn Lere zu meyden printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut depicting two birds flanking a plinth (top), a man wearing a hat and playing a flute with a bee at his shoulder (right), two cherubs holding up a blank crest (bottom), and a humanoid fiure with a pig or cow's head holding a rosary (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's De votis monasticis judicium printed in 1522. The border is printed as a single woodcut and depicts an archway with cherubs playing the drum and flute (top), and cherubs holding the Electoral Arms of Saxony (left) and the Ducal Arms of Saxony (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's De votis monasticis judicium printed in 1522. The border is printed as a single woodcut and depicts an archway with cherubs playing the drum and flute (top), and cherubs holding the Electoral Arms of Saxony (left) and the Ducal Arms of Saxony (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Sermon Am Pfingstmontag das Evangelium. Joan. iij printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut and depicts an architectural arch or niche decorated with Corinthian columns (sides), a lady and a knight holding blank shields (top left and right), a pair of sirens holding a blank shield (top), a blank shield filled in with a hand-drawn symbol flanked by two cherubs playing the drums and flute (bottom).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Sermon Am Pfingstmontag das Evangelium. Joan. iij printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut and depicts an architectural arch or niche decorated with Corinthian columns (sides), a lady and a knight holding blank shields (top left and right), a pair of sirens holding a blank shield (top), a blank shield filled in with a hand-drawn symbol flanked by two cherubs playing the drums and flute (bottom).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Sermon von den Heiltumen printed in 1522. The border consists of four woodcuts, all featuring plant motifs with added elements, including: a bird (left), birds and bugs (top), fruits (right), and an urn (bottom). Within the border and below the title is a fifth woodcut depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary to the left and a saint to the right.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Sermon von den Heiltumen printed in 1522. The border consists of four woodcuts, all featuring plant motifs with added elements, including: a bird (left), birds and bugs (top), fruits (right), and an urn (bottom). Within the border and below the title is a fifth woodcut depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, with the Virgin Mary to the left and a saint to the right.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uom Missbrauch der Messen printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uom Missbrauch der Messen printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uom Missbrauch der Messen printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uom Missbrauch der Messen printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uon Menschenn Lere zu meyden printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut depicting two birds flanking a plinth (top), a man wearing a hat and playing a flute with a bee at his shoulder (right), two cherubs holding up a blank crest (bottom), and a humanoid fiure with a pig or cow's head holding a rosary (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Uon Menschenn Lere zu meyden printed in 1522. The border consists of a single woodcut depicting two birds flanking a plinth (top), a man wearing a hat and playing a flute with a bee at his shoulder (right), two cherubs holding up a blank crest (bottom), and a humanoid fiure with a pig or cow's head holding a rosary (right).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Vom ehelichen Leben printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Vom ehelichen Leben printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Vom ehelichen Leben printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Vom ehelichen Leben printed in 1522.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Von Menschenlehre zu meiden printed in 1522. The border is compromised of a single woodcut featuring an architectural arch or niche decorated with foliage and roses and topped with a cherub head.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Von Menschenlehre zu meiden printed in 1522. The border is compromised of a single woodcut featuring an architectural arch or niche decorated with foliage and roses and topped with a cherub head.

A woodcut border on the title page to Luther's Von Menschenlehre zu meiden printed in 1522. The border depicts a series of cherubs, including two carrying another on a ram's pelt litter while it plays a horn and carries a standard.

A woodcut border on the title page to Luther's Von Menschenlehre zu meiden printed in 1522. The border depicts a series of cherubs, including two carrying another on a ram's pelt litter while it plays a horn and carries a standard.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Von der Beicht, ob die der Papst Macht have zu gebieten printed in 1522. The border is composed of four woodcuts designed to create a single, cohesive design of decorative plants and a pair of cherubs.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Von der Beicht, ob die der Papst Macht have zu gebieten printed in 1522. The border is composed of four woodcuts designed to create a single, cohesive design of decorative plants and a pair of cherubs.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's sermon on John 3 and God's love. The border is composed of a single woodcut and depicts a group of cherubs climbing trees and holding up a blank crest.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's sermon on John 3 and God's love. The border is composed of a single woodcut and depicts a group of cherubs climbing trees and holding up a blank crest.

A historiated woodcut border of the title page of Moriae encomium : nunc postremum ab ipso autore religiose recognitu[m] una cum alijs aliquot libellis, no[n] minus eruditis quam amoenis, quorum omniu[m] titulos proxima pagella loquetur. The border features the personifications of several deadly sins and cardinal virtues, including Pride, Greed, Justice, Prudence, and Hope. At the bottom of the border, the personified Fortuna rides a horse as a skeleton shoots a man with an arrow.

A historiated woodcut border of the title page of Moriae encomium : nunc postremum ab ipso autore religiose recognitu[m] una cum alijs aliquot libellis, no[n] minus eruditis quam amoenis, quorum omniu[m] titulos proxima pagella loquetur. The border features the personifications of several deadly sins and cardinal virtues, including Pride, Greed, Justice, Prudence, and Hope. At the bottom of the border, the personified Fortuna rides a horse as a skeleton shoots a man with an arrow.

A woodcut border on the title page of Wolfgang Wulffer's pamphlet against Luther, calling him a "false prophet." The border is composed of a single woodcut depicting cherubs (top and sides), dragons (top left and right), and a man reclining while wearing a hood with pointed ears (bottom).

A woodcut border on the title page of Wolfgang Wulffer's pamphlet against Luther, calling him a "false prophet." The border is composed of a single woodcut depicting cherubs (top and sides), dragons (top left and right), and a man reclining while wearing a hood with pointed ears (bottom).

Summary: It was the practice at Wittenberg for the students to sharpen their logical and debating skills by responding to a set of theses proposed by the professor in the discipline in which they were working. These theses were often collected into book form for the use of the students and for the study of the topics by interested non-students. This group is from the early years of the Reformation, 1521-1522. Theses proposed in the Universität Wittenberg for the granting of doctoral degrees. In most cases the "respondents" are not indicated.

Summary: It was the practice at Wittenberg for the students to sharpen their logical and debating skills by responding to a set of theses proposed by the professor in the discipline in which they were working. These theses were often collected into book form for the use of the students and for the study of the topics by interested non-students. This group is from the early years of the Reformation, 1521-1522. Theses proposed in the Universität Wittenberg for the granting of doctoral degrees. In most cases the "respondents" are not indicated.

A woodcut full-body portrait of Martin Luther dressed in the garb of an Augustinian monk and holding a book.

A woodcut full-body portrait of Martin Luther dressed in the garb of an Augustinian monk and holding a book.