16th-century statue of the infant Jesus has been acquired for the Luther Museum in Eisleben

Photo: epd-bild/Kuntsmann16th-century statue of the infant Jesus, carved in lime wood.It was possible to acquire a statue for the new permanent exhibition in the museum complex of the house where Luther died in Eisleben. It will become one of the main exhibits. The Luther Memorials Foundation in Saxony-Anhalt announced in Eisleben that the 16th-century figure of the infant Jesus could be bought at an art fair in Munich for 29,500 Euro.

The statue is carved in lime wood and depicts a nude, male child holding a golden globe in one hand. According to the Foundation, the artefact is most likely of Swabian origin and will become one of the main exhibits in the first room of the newly refurbished museum complex of the house where Luther died. This section of the exhibition is dedicated to the topics of Death, Heaven, Hell and Last Judgement as the "last things". The figure of the infant Jesus is ca. 45 cm high and will symbolise Heaven.

Re-opening of the museum planned for 2012

The historical complex with the house where Luther died is under refurbishment and extension since the beginning of this year. The project will cost five million Euro. In September 2012, the premises and the new permanent exhibition "Luther's last path" are planned to be opened.

The Foundation has commissioned the inventory to be restored according to the original design of the art expert Friedrich Wilhelm Wanderer from Nuremberg. Since last May, a donation project, "Restoration Godparents", has been launched, and around ten supporters have been found until now. For decades, many objects like paintings, furniture, or objects of everyday life have been in storage without being repaired.

The original house where Luther died has not been preserved. The museum, which was opened in 1894, has been assumed to be the site of the Reformer's death because a chronicler confused two buildings at the beginning of the 18th century. The Melanchthon House and the Luther House in Wittenberg, as well as the places of the Reformer's birth and death in Eisleben belong to the Luther Memorials Foundation. Since 1997, the museums are UNESCO world heritage sites.