Artwork
Simon Magus offering St Peter money for the power of conferring The Holy Spirit
Simon Magus offering St Peter money for the power of conferring The Holy Spirit is a tempera painting by Liberale da Verona. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Liberale da Verona’s tempera panel, dated to 1470, portrays a biblical encounter in which Simon Magus attempts to purchase the ability to confer the Holy Spirit from Saint Peter. The work is presently conserved in the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it is displayed among the museum’s collection of late‑medieval religious paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman in red and white garments standing on a staircase, while three male figures occupy the foreground. One man, dressed in blue and red, reaches toward the woman, suggesting the moment Simon offers money to Peter for spiritual power. The scene reflects the early Christian narrative of Simon’s failed attempt to commodify divine grace.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting employs fine, layered brushwork that creates subtle modelling of flesh and fabric. The artist’s handling of light yields a modest sense of depth, while the bright palette—particularly the reds, blues, and yellows—highlights the figures against a simplified architectural backdrop and a clear blue sky.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 15th century, the panel remained in private hands before entering the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection in the 20th century. Documentation traces its ownership through several European collectors, confirming its attribution to Liberale da Verona and its consistent identification as a depiction of the Simon Magus episode.
Context
Liberale da Verona worked in the Veneto region during a period when devotional imagery often illustrated moral lessons from the Acts of the Apostles. This painting aligns with contemporary efforts to warn against the corruption of spiritual authority, a theme reinforced by the visual contrast between the saintly figure and the bribing magician.
Artist & collection
