Northern Renaissance painters shifted from religious to secular art due to the Reformation, leading to a decrease in religious imagery and a focus on developing Protestant iconography.
In response to the Reformation and Protestant iconoclasm, many Northern Renaissance painters shifted their focus from traditional religious imagery to secular forms of art. They diversified into genres such as history painting, landscapes, portraiture, and still life, reflecting the change in patronage and demand for non-religious artwork.
The Protestant Reformation brought about iconoclasm, leading to a decrease in religious figurative art in Protestant countries. Artists in these regions painted fewer religious subjects publicly due to the association of religious art with the Catholic Church and the Protestant aversion to religious imagery as forms of idol worship.
However, efforts were made to develop a Protestant iconography through Bible images in book illustrations and prints, as some early Reformation artists depicted Reformation leaders akin to Catholic saints. Eventually, Protestant artistic taste turned away from displaying religious scenes in churches, though some continued to be shown in homes.
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