|
The fresco depicts the two last episodes from the story of the life of St Peter: to the right with St Paul, in his dispute with Simon Magus in front of the Emperor; to the left his crucifixion.
In the Cappella Brancacci Masaccio painted the fresco cycle depicting the story of the life of St Peter, including the last scene of the cycle, the Crucifixion of Peter. He left the cycle unfinished when went to Rome. The fresco of Crucifixion was destroyed when alterations were made in connection with the reconsecration of the chapel to the Madonna del Popolo. When Filippino Lippi was called in to complete the unfinished cycle and repair the damaged sections, he was also asked to add the scene of the death of Peter on the empty wall space.
This detail shows the central part of the fresco, a group observing the crucifixion. In this group of three the man looking towards the spectator is probably Sandro Botticelli.
| 
