Thursday, February 28, 2019

Residency Envy

Have you heard of studio envy? What about time envy?
Well my sister and I were traveling through the family tree and stumbling through Wartburg castle outside of Berlin in Germany, when we both agreed that the reason Martin Luther got as much as he did done was because of his forced seclusion under the protection of Frederick the Wise.
After the 1521 Diet of Worms trial the Roman Catholic Church announced Martin Luther an outlaw and, hoping to avoid angering the masses, put off determining the punishment for two weeks. Records now show that they were hoping to quietly assassinate Luther. Frederick the Wise, (who earned that name), 'kidnapped" Luther on his way home and took him to one of his secluded mountaintop castles, a stronghold, for safety.
Luther managed to get out a message to his buddy Cranach that he would have rather died than agree to be whisked away for safety, but that upon seeing the accommodations at Wartburg, he put his mind at ease and started to get to work.
This is a sketch of his room where, for a little over half a year, Luther worked on translating Latin and Hebrew new testament sources. In a phenomenally quick time he produced a German language New testament translated Bible for the Cranach presses! The room was wood paneled- the yellow and tally marks are my imagination at work.
There was a whale vertabrae in his room for use as an apparent footstool, an elaborate ceramic heater, and a carved wooden cushioned arm chair. The amenities at the castle included hot baths, a theater, 360 degree views and an extensive library.
Mountain top stronghold
Luxurious digs

Inside the castle grounds

What would I give for a forced retreat/residency like that?

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