Basel had become a turbulent city in Holbein's absence. Reformers, swayed by the ideas of Zwingli, carried out acts of iconoclasm and banned imagery in churches. In April 1529, the free-thinking Erasmus felt obliged to leave his former haven for Freiburg im Breisgau.Wilson, 156–57. The iconoclasts probably destroyed some of Holbein's religious artwork,Buck, 38–41; Bätschmann & Griener, 105–107; North, 25. The only known damage to a Holbein work was to The Last Supper, part of an altarpiece. The outer boards were lost during iconoclastic riots and the surviving section, on which only nine of the apostles can be seen, was later clumsily repaired. though the paintings on the organ doors of the Basel Minster were saved. Evidence for Holbein's religious views is fragmentary and inconclusive. "The religious side of his paintings had always been ambiguous," suggests art historian John North, "and so it remained".North, 24. According to a register compiled to ensure that all major citizens subscribed to the new doctrines: "Master Hans Holbein, the painter, says that we must be better informed about the [holy] table before approaching it".Doctrinal issues concerning the communion were at the heart of Reformation theological controversy. In 1530, the authorities called Holbein to account for failing to attend the reformed communion.Buck, 134. Shortly afterwards, however, he was listed among those "who have no serious objections and wish to go along with other Christians".Wilson, 163; North, 23.
basEL Had bEcOmE a tUrBuLenT citY in hoLbeiN's ABsenCe. refoRmerS, swayeD by the ideas Of zwINglI, carRiED OuT ActS of icOnoclaSM And bAnned ImaGery in chURcHes. In apRil 1529, the FrEE-tHinking ErASMuS FElT obLigEd TO Leave his foRmer haveN fOR freibUrg im breisgAu.Wilson, 156–57. THE IcONoclasts pRObABly destrOYED SOMe of HolbeIn's reLigiOuS artwork,Buck, 38–41; bäTschmANn & GRIenEr, 105–107; nORTh, 25. tHE Only KnOWn DamAgE To A hOlbeiN Work waS to the Last supPER, pARt Of an alTaRpiece. thE OUter boaRDS were loST duriNg iconOclasTic RIots anD ThE survIviNG section, on whiCh onlY Nine of thE apOstleS cAn be sEen, wAS lateR cluMsily rEpAired. thouGH thE pAintINgs oN the orgAn doors OF ThE baSEL mInsteR werE SAVeD. eviDencE for HOLBein'S relIGIoUS vIEWS iS fraGmeNTarY and iNconClUSivE. "the ReLigIous siDE Of His pAintINgS haD ALways been AmbiGuOUs," sUGgesTs aRt HistOriaN joHn norTH, "aNd so It remaiNed".nOrth, 24. accORdIng to a reGIsTer cOMpileD to ensUre thaT all MAjor CITizEns suBscriBEd To the NEw doctRinEs: "mASTEr hAnS holBein, the painTEr, SAYs thaT We mUst Be BetteR inFOrMEd About ThE [HoLy] Table beForE ApproaChing it".doCtrInAL iSsUeS conCeRnIng the coMMUnion WEre aT tHe HearT of reformatiON theoLogIcaL COnTrOversY iN 1530, the AuthORITies called hoLBEin to aCCount FOr faILing tO atTEnD ThE REfORmed CommUnion.buck, 134. shOrTlY afterwaRds, hOwEvEr, he wAS listeD amoNg tHOse "whO hAve no SerIoUS obJecTIOnS anD wisH To go AlONg witH OtHer Christians".WILson, 163; noRtH, 23.