Historical Background

Ever since the arrival of the reformed faith by John Calvin and Ulrich
Zwingli in the 16th century, art and the reformed faith have shared
an uneasy relationship. Art history books often mention with disdain
the destruction of artworks during the protestant reformation,
attributing the widespread devastating and loss of artworks to the
doctrine of John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli. This is often known as
iconoclasm.

It is true that the reformers had preached against the use of images
in worship and for veneration, and preached the removal or at least
covering of those artworks that had filled the churches. However,
overzealous followers would rise up in unauthorised riots in
Protestant cities over Europe, smashing artworks both in the
churches and outside.