This work depicts Martin Luther standing before the assembled powers of church and empire at the Diet of Worms, where he was commanded to recant his writings. Surrounded by princes, prelates, and imperial authority, Luther stands alone, bound by conscience to Scripture and conviction rather than fear.
The scene captures a defining moment in Western and Christian history: the collision of truth and power, conscience and command. It is not a portrait of rebellion for its own sake, but of moral courage—the refusal to submit the soul to coercion when truth is at stake. Luther’s posture, the tension of the assembly, and the heavy silence of the room all testify to the cost of faithful witness.
This piece serves as a visual reminder that history turns not only on armies and crowns, but on men willing to stand, speak, and bear the consequences.
