Saint Peter (Grão Vasco)
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| Saint Peter Enthroned as Pope | |
|---|---|
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| Artist | Grão Vasco |
| Year | c. 1529 |
| Medium | Oil on panel |
| Subject | Peter the Apostle |
| Dimensions | 215 cm × 233.3 cm (85 in × 91.9 in) |
| Location | Grão Vasco National Museum, Viseu |
Saint Peter is a painting by Portuguese artist Grão Vasco, dated c. 1529. Commissioned by Miguel da Silva, originally meant to serve as an altarpiece for a side altar of the Viseu Cathedral, the painting is now part of the collections of Grão Vasco National Museum, in Viseu, Portugal.
The painting is considered a masterpiece of the Portuguese Renaissance. Anglo-Irish art critic Sir William Henry Gregory called Saint Peter "one of the chief ornaments of any gallery in the world from its grandeur and simplicity".[1]
Saint Peter is at the centre of the symmetrical composition, sitting on an ornate Italianate pontifical throne making the blessing gesture toward the viewer, in full Papal regalia: the ample cope, of rich red brocade, features finely woven ornamental motifs in gold thread and medallions with angels holding the Instruments of the Passion, pearls and precious stones; the papal tiara features three intricately decorated gold circlets with arabesque patterns of interlacing foliage; the pontifical gloves are white and the Ring of the Fisherman is visible, set with a dark green gem.[2] On his left hand, in place of a crosier, Peter holds an elongated golden key,[3] in reference to the Keys of Heaven, an attribute of this saint and a symbol of papal authority. The top of the throne features some Manueline decorative elements (like the vegetalist details at the top),[2] as well as some pagan elements such as the carved putti and grotesques that hold the papal arms as well as the brocade canopy over the seat.[3]
On either side of the throne, two arches open to distant views of two episodes of Saint Peter's life: on the left, the Gospel narrative of Jesus Christ calling Peter and Andrew to become his disciples; on the right, the Quo vadis? from the apocryphal Acts of Peter, as the risen Jesus appears to him just before his martyrdom.[2]
The painting, as an altarpiece, also features a predella underneath it; it has three smaller paintings depicting Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Andrew, Saint Bartholomew and Saint Jude, and Saint Paul and Saint James.[2]
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