Who painted Saint Peter?

Saint Peter was painted by Jacques Callot in 1631.

Where can I see Saint Peter?

Saint Peter is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Peter?

Saint Peter is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Saint Peter

Jacques Callot , 1631

Saint Peter is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot, a French printmaker active in the early seventeenth century, produced the etching Saint Peter in 1631. Executed on laid paper, the work depicts the apostle with his traditional attributes—a key and a book—set before a modest crowd. The image reflects Callot’s baroque sensibility and his facility with the etching medium.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is the biblical Saint Peter, identifiable by his halo, the large key symbolising the keys of heaven, and the open book suggesting his role as a teacher. The surrounding onlookers create a narrative space, implying the apostle’s public authority and the transmission of his teachings to a broader audience.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the etching process, incising lines into a copper plate which was then acid‑etched and printed onto laid paper. This method allowed him to render fine textures in the robe, the intricate detailing of the key, and the delicate shading of the background crowd, characteristic of his precise, linear style.

History & Provenance

Created during a prolific period in which Callot produced more than 1,400 prints, Saint Peter belongs to his series of religious subjects. While many of his works circulated among collectors in the Duchy of Lorraine and beyond, specific ownership records for this particular print are scarce.

Context

In the baroque era, religious imagery was a dominant theme, and Callot’s prints often juxtaposed sacred figures with richly observed landscapes or everyday scenes. Saint Peter exemplifies this blend, situating a holy figure within a tangible, almost documentary setting that reflects contemporary visual culture.