Who painted Saint Peter as Founder of the Church?

Saint Peter as Founder of the Church was painted by German 15th Century in 1465.

Where can I see Saint Peter as Founder of the Church?

Saint Peter as Founder of the Church is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Peter as Founder of the Church?

Saint Peter as Founder of the Church is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Peter as Founder of the Church

German 15th Century , 1465

Saint Peter as Founder of the Church is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a hand‑colored woodcut portraying Saint Peter before a church façade.

About this work

Overview

The background features a building with a green‑tiled roof and a prominent tower, rendered in a palette of Venetian red, green, yellow, lavender and rose.

The work is a hand‑colored woodcut portraying Saint Peter before a church façade. Peter is shown in a flowing robe, clutching a key that signifies his authority over the heavenly gates. A secondary figure, possibly a cleric, stands to his right, also robed. The background features a building with a green‑tiled roof and a prominent tower, rendered in a palette of Venetian red, green, yellow, lavender and rose.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, Saint Peter, is identified as the founder of the Christian Church, a role emphasized by the key he holds—a traditional emblem of his custodial power over the entrance to heaven. The accompanying figure may represent a priest or disciple, underscoring the transmission of ecclesiastical authority.

Technique & Style

Executed as a woodcut, the image was later enhanced with hand‑applied colors. The artist employed a limited yet vivid range of pigments—Venetian red, green, yellow, lavender, and rose—to accentuate architectural details and clothing, creating a sense of depth while retaining the graphic qualities of the print medium.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to the tradition of early modern religious prints, where woodcut reproductions were commonly used for devotional purposes. Its specific origin and ownership trail are not documented in the supplied information, indicating that further archival research would be needed to trace its journey.

Context

During the period when such prints were popular, visual depictions of saints served both instructional and inspirational functions for the faithful. The inclusion of Saint Peter with his key aligns with widespread iconography that reinforced papal authority and the continuity of the Church's foundation.

Legacy

Hand‑colored woodcuts like this one contributed to the spread of religious imagery beyond elite patrons, making sacred narratives accessible to a broader audience. The work exemplifies the intersection of print technology and devotional art that shaped visual culture in its era.