Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment Possibly 1630

Christoph Murer made this print of “Christ Tells His Disciples of the Last Judgment” at the turn of the 17th century. The image visualizes a Biblical scene, but the artist translates it to his contemporary world. Made in Switzerland, this print reflects a society deeply shaped by the Reformation. Murer’s detailed engraving style emphasizes clarity, mirroring the Protestant focus on direct engagement with scripture. Notice how the composition directs your eye towards Christ, but also distributes focus across the disciples. This visual arrangement may speak to the reformation tenet of a more egalitarian church. By studying costume, architecture, and religious history, we can place this work within the context of Swiss reformation culture. The visual language speaks to both religious reform and artistic innovation, creating a complex dialogue across time. Approaching art history in this way makes art a primary source of understanding the past.