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A woodcut depicting the blessing and coronation of a king. The king, draped in a robe, kneels before a bishop who hands him a sword from the altar. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing on eagles and holding bags of snakes. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the blessing and coronation of a king. The king, draped in a robe, kneels before a bishop who hands him a sword from the altar. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing on eagles and holding bags of snakes. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the blessing and coronation of a king. The king kneels before the bishop who slides the previously presented sword into the scabbard worn by the king. The scene is flanked by ornamental scroll work featuring masks. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the blessing and coronation of a king. The king kneels before the bishop who slides the previously presented sword into the scabbard worn by the king. The scene is flanked by ornamental scroll work featuring masks. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the blessing of a soldier or knight. The armored soldier or knight kneels before a bishop, holding his sword before him as the bishop takes hold of the hilt. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing on eagles and holding bags of snakes. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting the blessing of a soldier or knight. The armored soldier or knight kneels before a bishop, holding his sword before him as the bishop takes hold of the hilt. The scene is flanked by a pair of cherubs standing on eagles and holding bags of snakes. The woodcut is reused throughout the work.

A woodcut depicting Saint John the Apostle's vision from the first chapter of Revelations of a Christ with flaming eyes, surrounded by seven candlesticks and holding seven stars, with a sword emerging from his mouth. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting Saint John the Apostle's vision from the first chapter of Revelations of a Christ with flaming eyes, surrounded by seven candlesticks and holding seven stars, with a sword emerging from his mouth. The image appears in the September Testament, Martin Luther's first printing of his German New Testament.

A woodcut depicting the coat of arm sof Johann "the Constant" (or "Steadfast"), Elector of Saxony, who was a supporter of Luther and his movement. The coat of arms features a pair of crossed swords at the center, surrounded by ten fields with varying iconography, including lions, eagles, and a rose. Three helmets with different crests sit above the coat of arms and the entire composition is surrounded by a host of cherubs and a pair of trees.

A woodcut depicting the coat of arm sof Johann "the Constant" (or "Steadfast"), Elector of Saxony, who was a supporter of Luther and his movement. The coat of arms features a pair of crossed swords at the center, surrounded by ten fields with varying iconography, including lions, eagles, and a rose. Three helmets with different crests sit above the coat of arms and the entire composition is surrounded by a host of cherubs and a pair of trees.

A woodcut depicting Adam and Eve being driven from the garden of Eden by an angel. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 3 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting Adam and Eve being driven from the garden of Eden by an angel. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Genesis 3 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut border to Ingolstadii XI. Aprilis anni praesentis [1524] publica disputatione printed in 1524. The border is composed of four woodcuts depicting a woman holding a sword beneath a pair of fish (left), a wild man leaning on a staff with cherubs above and below (right), a bird on a branch (top), and a pair of crawling men with their hecks bound together and being led with bits and reins by a group of cherubs (bottom).

A woodcut border to Ingolstadii XI. Aprilis anni praesentis [1524] publica disputatione printed in 1524. The border is composed of four woodcuts depicting a woman holding a sword beneath a pair of fish (left), a wild man leaning on a staff with cherubs above and below (right), a bird on a branch (top), and a pair of crawling men with their hecks bound together and being led with bits and reins by a group of cherubs (bottom).

The title page of Peter Lambeck's Petri Lambecii Hamburgensis Commentariorum de augustissima Bibliotheca Caesarea Vindobonensi liber secundus featuring the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, guarded from above by an eagle holding a sceptre and a sword. To the left and right of the main coat of arms are an additional two crests, a book and pen, and a helmet.

The title page of Peter Lambeck's Petri Lambecii Hamburgensis Commentariorum de augustissima Bibliotheca Caesarea Vindobonensi liber secundus featuring the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, guarded from above by an eagle holding a sceptre and a sword. To the left and right of the main coat of arms are an additional two crests, a book and pen, and a helmet.

An engraved title page to Jean Luiken's Theatre des Martyrs. In the center, there is a depiction of several martyrdoms, including being boiled, being spun on a wheel across spikes, and burning at the stake, under which is the phrase, "per angusta ad augusta" (from crisis to glory). Forming a border around the title information is a collection of weapons and instruments of torture which are related to various martyrdoms, including: swords, maces, spears, arrows, axes, clubs, halberds, flails, saws, knives, chains, manacles, torches, mallets, anchors, and a crown of thorns.

An engraved title page to Jean Luiken's Theatre des Martyrs. In the center, there is a depiction of several martyrdoms, including being boiled, being spun on a wheel across spikes, and burning at the stake, under which is the phrase, "per angusta ad augusta" (from crisis to glory). Forming a border around the title information is a collection of weapons and instruments of torture which are related to various martyrdoms, including: swords, maces, spears, arrows, axes, clubs, halberds, flails, saws, knives, chains, manacles, torches, mallets, anchors, and a crown of thorns.

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Resolutiones Lutherianae super propositionibus suis Lipsiae disputatis printed in 1519. The border depicts a fox chasing a bird (bottom), three boars (one holding a sword, one stirring a pot, and one wearing a crown and holding a scepter; right), a man with a comb (?) (top), and two men (one with a bucket and the other working a printing press; left).

A woodcut border on the title page of Luther's Resolutiones Lutherianae super propositionibus suis Lipsiae disputatis printed in 1519. The border depicts a fox chasing a bird (bottom), three boars (one holding a sword, one stirring a pot, and one wearing a crown and holding a scepter; right), a man with a comb (?) (top), and two men (one with a bucket and the other working a printing press; left).

A woodcut initial letter "E" depicting a pair of battling figures, one with a staff and one with a shield and sword.

A woodcut initial letter "E" depicting a pair of battling figures, one with a staff and one with a shield and sword.

An initial letter "T" featuring an angel halting Abraham's blade as he prepares to sacrifice his son, Isaac, upon an altar as a ram watches.

An initial letter "T" featuring an angel halting Abraham's blade as he prepares to sacrifice his son, Isaac, upon an altar as a ram watches.

An engraving depicting two separate scenes. On the left, Jesus tells his disciples that if they do not have swords, they should sell their cloaks and buy one in order to fulfill the scripture "And he was counted among the lawless". On the right, the Pope is depicted celebrating the Eucharist.

An engraving depicting two separate scenes. On the left, Jesus tells his disciples that if they do not have swords, they should sell their cloaks and buy one in order to fulfill the scripture "And he was counted among the lawless". On the right, the Pope is depicted celebrating the Eucharist.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp. The image shows Polycarp sitting on a blazing fire with eyes turned towards heaven as a man stabs him with a sword.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp. The image shows Polycarp sitting on a blazing fire with eyes turned towards heaven as a man stabs him with a sword.

A woodcut portrait of Ulrich van Hutten dressed in armor and wearing a laurel crown. Below the portrait is the motto "IACTA EST ALEA," translated as "the die is cast." In the four corners of the portrait are coats of arms.

A woodcut portrait of Ulrich van Hutten dressed in armor and wearing a laurel crown. Below the portrait is the motto "IACTA EST ALEA," translated as "the die is cast." In the four corners of the portrait are coats of arms.

A woodcut depicting Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a show of faith to God and being stopped by an angel, who provides a ram (center left) for sacrifice in Isaac's place.

A woodcut depicting Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a show of faith to God and being stopped by an angel, who provides a ram (center left) for sacrifice in Isaac's place.

A series of four engravings depicting the standards of the Spanish and Goan Inquisitions (top), a man awaiting judgement (bottom left), and a nun who avoided being condemned to the stake by confessing (bottom right). The standard of the Spanish Inquisition features a cross made of rough logs, flanked by a sword and a branch with the motto, "EXURGE DOMINE ET JUDICA CAUSAM TUAM PSALM 73." The standard of the Goan Inquisition features a Dominican monk holding a sword and branch above a dog holding a torch to an orb with the motto, "MISERICORDIA ET JUSTITIA."

A series of four engravings depicting the standards of the Spanish and Goan Inquisitions (top), a man awaiting judgement (bottom left), and a nun who avoided being condemned to the stake by confessing (bottom right). The standard of the Spanish Inquisition features a cross made of rough logs, flanked by a sword and a branch with the motto, "EXURGE DOMINE ET JUDICA CAUSAM TUAM PSALM 73." The standard of the Goan Inquisition features a Dominican monk holding a sword and branch above a dog holding a torch to an orb with the motto, "MISERICORDIA ET JUSTITIA."

A woodcut depicting two men gambling in the foreground as Christ is crucified and stabbed in the background.

A woodcut depicting two men gambling in the foreground as Christ is crucified and stabbed in the background.

A woodcut depicting an emperor listening to the petition of one of his subjects. A skeleton, representing death, holds the crown on the emperor’s head, as the emperor holds a broken sword. An orb, a scepter, and an hourglass sit on the ground at his feet. The emperor is also wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Isaiah 38 and 22 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting an emperor listening to the petition of one of his subjects. A skeleton, representing death, holds the crown on the emperor’s head, as the emperor holds a broken sword. An orb, a scepter, and an hourglass sit on the ground at his feet. The emperor is also wearing the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The woodcut is accompanied by verses from Isaiah 38 and 22 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting a nobleman fighting with a skeleton which represents Death. Behind the nobleman is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Psalms 88 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting a nobleman fighting with a skeleton which represents Death. Behind the nobleman is an hourglass representing human mortality. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Psalms 88 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) dueling a soldier on a battlefields as another skeleton plays a drum in the background. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Luke 11 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).

A woodcut depicting a skeleton (= Death) dueling a soldier on a battlefields as another skeleton plays a drum in the background. The woodcut is accompanied by a verse from Luke 11 translated into French (top) and then reformatted into verse (bottom).