The triptych altarpiece was installed at the high altar of the Wittenberg City Parish Church of St. Mary's in 1547, one year after Luther's death, and it is believed to be consecrated by Johannes Bugenhagen, who was the pastor at St. Mary's church in Wittenberg and a good friend of Martin Luther.

[2] Lucas Cranach the Elder designed the altar and painted most of the front panel, while his son Lucas Cranach the Younger painted the panels on the back and finished his father's work on the front.

[3] The Wittenberg altarpiece is a visualization of several major principles of the Protestant Reformation, and serves as a portrayal of Lutheran sacramental theology.

On the front, the middle panel and the inner two wings depict the three sacraments recognized by Luther, namely the Baptism, Eucharist and Absolution.

On the predella, Martin Luther is shown delivering a sermon and preaching the Word of God, a central tenet of Reformation, with crucified Christ depicted in the middle in reference to Christocentric nature of the new faith; Luther's wife Katharina von Bora is shown among the congregants.