Artwork
Saint Peter
Saint Peter is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Dalmasio Scannabecchi. It dates from 1370 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1370, this panel painting portrays the apostle Peter, identifiable by his halo and the silver key he holds—a traditional symbol of his role as the keeper of heaven’s gates. The work is part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is displayed among other medieval religious images.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is rendered as an elderly man with curly gray hair and a full beard, dressed in a vivid red tunic beneath a green mantle. The key, long and rectangular‑tipped, rests prominently in his hand, emphasizing Peter’s authority and his biblical function as the gatekeeper of the Church.
Technique & Style
Executed in the late medieval idiom, the painting employs a flat gold background that eliminates spatial depth, focusing attention on the saint’s solemn expression. The use of bold, saturated colors and a defined dark gray border reflects the period’s emphasis on symbolic clarity over naturalistic representation.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Italian painter Dalmasio Scannabecchi, the work has survived for over six centuries before entering the Detroit Institute of Arts. Its provenance traces back to ecclesiastical settings, though specific records of its early ownership remain limited, typical of many devotional panels from the 14th century.
Artist & collection
