Saint Peter by Pierre Paul Rubens

Belonging to the major series dedicated to the founding fathers of the Christian Church, this hagiographic depiction glorifies spiritual authority and contemplation. The painter Pierre Paul Rubens expresses restrained fervor in “Saint Pierre” through a figure of impressive patriarchal dignity. The artwork reflects the spirit of the Catholic Reformation through the theological power of the character and his emotional intensity.:::::The apostle appears in half-length against a dark background, his face turned upward in an attitude of earnest prayer. His curly grey hair and bushy white beard frame a weathered face filled with noble wisdom. He is draped in a heavy off-white tunic adorned with small embroidered crosses on the shoulders and chest. With his raised right hand, the saint firmly holds a large golden key symbolizing the kingdom of heaven. His left hand rests on a second key made of dark iron, directed toward the bottom of the composition. Dramatic lighting from above illuminates the old man’s inclined forehead and accentuates the heavy folds of his garment.:::::The virtuosity of Pierre Paul Rubens shines in his work with chiaroscuro and the realistic texture of the white beard. His subtle handling of oil color infuses captivating spiritual strength as well as striking realism into this holy figure.