Artwork
Saint Peter
Saint Peter is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jusepe de Ribera. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Jusepe de Ribera’s oil painting *Saint Peter* was executed in 1632. The work presents a bearded figure in a yellow robe, holding a book and a key, attributes traditionally linked to the apostle. It is an example of early Italian Baroque painting and currently resides in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter’s long white beard, dark hair, and the key beside a book identify him as Saint Peter, the first pope and keeper of the heavenly keys. The objects function as visual symbols of his authority and the gospel teachings he transmitted, reinforcing his role as a foundational figure of the Church.
Technique & Style
Ribera employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated facial features and hands against a dark background. This contrast heightens the three‑dimensionality of the figure and draws the viewer’s attention to the expressive face and the symbolic objects, a hallmark of the dramatic realism favored by Baroque artists.
History & Provenance
Created while Ribera was active in Naples, the painting reflects the Spanish Baroque sensibility that linked him with contemporaries such as Velázquez and Zurbarán. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century Spanish art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jusepe de Ribera (Valencian: ; baptised 17 February 1591 – 3 November 1652) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.
