Artwork
Saint Peter
Saint Peter is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Giovanni Antonio da Brescia. It dates from 1507 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Around 1507 Giovanni Antonio da Brescia, an Italian engraver active in the northern regions of Renaissance Italy, produced an engraving titled *Saint Peter*. The work belongs to the religious print genre and exemplifies the period’s interest in depicting sacred figures for devotional purposes.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a bearded man in a long robe, his hair rendered in gentle waves, holding a pair of keys—a traditional attribute identifying him as Saint Peter, the apostolic founder of the Church. The composition’s simplicity, with a modest floor line and a small plant, directs attention to the saint’s symbolic role.
Technique & Style
Executed with fine incised lines, the engraving achieves a delicate modelling of the fabric and flesh through cross‑hatching and tonal shading. The artist’s handling of line creates a sense of texture on the robe and a subtle three‑dimensionality in the figure’s posture.
History & Provenance
Early in his career Giovanni Antonio signed works with the initials “Z.A.”; by the time of this print he had adopted the more elaborate monogram “IO.AN.BX.”, a marker that helps date the piece to the later phase of his activity, roughly between 1490 and 1519.
Context
Printmaking in early sixteenth‑century northern Italy served both devotional and instructional functions, allowing images of saints to reach a broader audience. *Saint Peter* reflects this trend, offering a portable visual reference to a key biblical figure within the expanding market for religious prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Antonio da Brescia was an Italian engraver of northern Italy, active in the approximate period 1490–1519, during the Italian Renaissance.
